Using admission radiographic findings to predict pneumonia outcomes

A retrospective review of radiographs of 406 children (median age, 3 years) hospitalized for pneumonia found associations between radiographic findings and subsequent hospital care and clinical outcomes. Children with a single lobar infiltrate were significantly less likely than those with unilateral or bilateral multilobar infiltrates to be admitted to the ICU. Presence of a bilateral multilobar infiltrate was associated with the need for mechanical ventilation (McClain L, et al. J Hosp Med. 2014;9[9]:559-564).

Ms Freedman is a freelance medical editor and writer in New Jersey. She has nothing to disclose in regard to affiliations with or financial interests in any organizations that may have an interest in any part of this article.