Hospital-acquired pneumonia

Hospital-acquired pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that occurs during a hospital stay. This type of pneumonia can be very severe. Sometimes, it can be fatal.

Causes

Pneumonia is a common illness. It is caused by many different germs. Pneumonia that starts in the hospital tends to be more serious than other lung infections because:

People in the hospital are often very sick and cannot fight off germs.
The types of germs present in a hospital are often more dangerous and more resistant to treatment than those outside in the community.

Pneumonia occurs more often in people who are using a respirator, which is a machine helps them breathe.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia can also be spread by health care workers, who can pass germs from their hands or clothes from one person to another. This is why hand-washing, wearing gowns, and using other safety measures is so important in the hospital.

People can be more likely to get pneumonia while in the hospital if they:

Abuse alcohol
Have had chest surgery or other major surgery
Have a weak immune system from cancer treatment, certain medicines, or severe wounds
Have long-term (chronic) lung disease
Breathe saliva or food into their lungs as a result of not being fully alert or having swallowing problems (for example, after a stroke)
Are older
Are on a breathing machine