Pulmonary infection in patients with diabetes mellitus and without diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the pulmonary infection characteristics of diabetic and non-diabetic patients with pneumonia. Using retrospective chart review, pneumonia characteristics were collected and compared between 30 diabetic and 30 non-diabetic subjects. Comparisons were made between causative organisms, blood glucose levels, length of stay in the hospital, intravenous antibiotic prescription on discharge, and cost of care. The 30 non-diabetics were matched to the diabetics by age, sex, and year of admission to the hospital. Results indicated that the diabetic group was affected by a few different organisms than the non-diabetic group, had a significantly higher blood glucose on admission to the hospital, did not stay in the hospital longer, did not require any more intravenous antibiotic use on discharge than non-diabetics, and cost the health care system the same amount of money as the non-diabetic subjects. Nursing implications included increased demands for diabetic education, prevention programs, and development of care plans that address the needs of hospitalized diabetics with pneumonia.