Community-acquired pneumonia in patients admitted to National District Hospital in Bloemfontein: guideline adherence

  • Thornton Ford University of the Free State
  • Johané Potgieter University of the Free State
  • Jana Van der Walt University of the Free State
  • Monette Van Schalkwyk University of the Free State
  • Maresa Van Lill University of the Free State
  • Gina Joubert University of the Free State
Keywords: community-acquired infections, guideline adherence, pneumonia, sputum, cough

Abstract

Background: Patients with suspected community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are managed according to treatment guidelines. This study aimed to determine the guideline adherence of health professionals at National District Hospital (NDH), Bloemfontein.

Methods: This retrospective descriptive study included a study population of 149 patients admitted to NDH with suspected CAP from January 2015 to September 2016. Information was noted from the patient files and included signs and symptoms, investigations done and medication prescribed.

Results: Most patients (n = 111, 75.0%) presented with a cough, 87 (60.0%) had a sputum test and 125 (83.9%) had a chest X-ray of whom 108 (86.4%) had a consolidation on the X-ray. The CURB-65 score of five (3.4%) patients was mentioned in the files, of which only three patients’ scores were indicated. One patient had a noted CURB-65 score that required admission.

Conclusion: The adherence of health professionals to the treatment guideline for suspected CAP patients is poor.

Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp

S Afr Fam Pract 2018; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2018.1475881

Author Biographies

Thornton Ford, University of the Free State

School of Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Johané Potgieter, University of the Free State

School of Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Jana Van der Walt, University of the Free State

School of Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Monette Van Schalkwyk, University of the Free State

School of Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Maresa Van Lill, University of the Free State

Department of Family Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Gina Joubert, University of the Free State

Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Published
2018-11-29
Issue
Vol 60 No 6: November/December 2018
Section
Correspondence
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