Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia and Comorbidity in Elderly Patients

Abstract

We have analyzed the clinical course of pneumonia in 67 elderly patients (39 women and 28 men, the average age: 74.4 ± 5.2 years) with chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The patients were divided into two groups: with COPD (group 1) and without COPD (group 2). Pharmacological treatment incorporating ampicillin and sulbactam was performed taking into account clinical laboratory indices (temperature, oxygen saturation, and levels of acute-phase proteins (ESRs)). The normalization of temperature and oxygen saturation was observed on day 3–4 in group 1 and on day 2 in group 2; normalization of leukocyte content and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was observed on day 12–13 and 7–8, respectively; and the acute phase indicators (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen) were normalized on day 7 and 5, respectively. Positive dynamics of chest X-ray analysis was observed on day 13 in patients of group 1 (the second control and the use of levofloxacin as alternative to the antibiotic previously used) and on day 8 in patients of group 2 (the first control).