J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2006 Feb;17(1):79-85.

Risk Factors for Developing Pneumonia in Acute Drug-intoxicated Patients

• Park YJ
• Kim SP
• Cho SH
• Cho NS
• Lee CG

Abstract

PURPOSE: Acute drug-intoxicated patients visiting the emergency room often develop pneumonia after emergency treatment. The purpose of this article is to investigate the risk factors associated with the development of pneumonia and to aid in the treatment of such patients.
METHODS
108 patients who visited the Chosun University Hospital emergency room from May 2002 through August 2004 for the treatment of acute drug intoxication were investigated retrospectively.
RESULTS
In this study, 52(48.1%) of 108 patients developed pneumonia. The development of pneumonia was significantly higher in patients who were intoxicated with insecticide, were not alert, were hypotensive and apneic, vomiting, required artificial ventilation through intubation due to increased secretions patients.
CONCLUSION
In acute drug-intoxicated patients, changes in consciousness, the amount of secretion and performed of endotracheal intubation are risk factors associated with an increased possibility of developing pneumonia. Careful inspection and observation are needed for acute drug-intoxicated patients with these risk factors.

Keyword

Pneumonia; Drug intoxication; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Consciousness
Emergency Service, Hospital
Emergency Treatment
Humans
Intubation
Intubation, Intratracheal
Pneumonia*
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors*
Ventilation
Vomiting