Community acquired acute bacterial and atypical pneumonia in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND Rational treatment of pneumonia requires knowledge of the likely aetiological diagnosis in any community. Little is known about the pattern and outcome of pneumonia in Saudi Arabia. METHODS A total of 567 pneumonic episodes in adult patients from the Al-Qassim area were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS Patients had a mean age of 42.7 years, with 103 patients (18%) aged 13 to 20 years and 103 (18%) aged 60 or more. Almost two thirds of the episodes (64%) occurred in men. An aetiological diagnosis was established in 351 (62%) cases, with 145 episodes being due to pneumococcal infection and 129 to Mycoplasma pneumonia. Inhospital mortality was 6% (35 patients). Age over 60 years, aspiration pneumonia, and Gram negative infection were the only factors that independently predicted adverse outcome on adjusted mortality analysis. CONCLUSION This analysis of pneumonia in the Al-Qassim area indicates the pattern and prognosis of acute bacterial and atypical pneumonia that requires admission to hospital in the central region of Saudi Arabia. It should provide a basis for developing rational treatment for community acquired pneumonia in Saudi Arabia.