Resumo

BAEZ-SALDANA, Renata et al. Quality of care in community-acquired pneumonia in México. Neumol. cir. torax [online]. 2014, vol.73, n.2, pp.106-113. ISSN 0028-3746.

Introduction: At present, we do not have the systematized local information required to allow us to adequately evaluate compliance with the quality indicators established for the provision of medical care in cases of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to patients hospitalized with diagnoses of community-acquired pneumonia in relation to international quality standards of medical attention. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study of a series of cases of patients hospitalized with diagnoses of CAP from January 2006 to June 2009. All data were gathered from the clinical files of those patients by means of a standardized format that considered, among other variables, information on quality indicators. Measurement of those indicators was based on proportions. Results: A total of 268 cases were studied. Mean age of the patients was 57 years. Males predominated in the sample with 155 cases (57.84%). Compliance with the established quality indicators was as follows: evaluation of the need for hospitalization and risk factors 13% and 63%; adequate hospitalization 65.30%; Gram stains and sputum cultures upon admission 28.35%; two blood cultures upon admission 16.42%; empirical treatment in accordance with guidelines 80.6%; change from IV to oral administration 19.8%. Conclusions: Though compliance with international indicators of the quality of medical attention in patients hospitalized with CAP is still highly variable, these results demonstrate that there is an area of opportunity to improve the quality of the medical care offered.

Palavras-chave : Community-acquired pneumonia; Mexico; quality indicators; quality of care.