Mehr et al evaluated nursing home patients with dementia and pneumonia. A number of factors may influence whether the patient is treated with antibiotics. The authors are from the University of Missouri and VU University Hospital in Amsterdam.
Patient selection: nursing home resident with dementia and a lower respiratory tract infection
Parameters:
(1) white blood cell count per microliter
(2) body temperature in °C
(3) chest X-ray
(4) sex
(5) number of licensed beds in the facility
(6) provide age in years
(7) severe dementia
Parameter
Finding
Points
WBC count
< 15,000 per µL
0
>= 15,000 per µL
-2.0027
temperature
<= 38.3°C
0
> 38.3°C
-0.9860
chest X-ray
negative
0
possible pneumonia
-0.6885
probable or definite pneumonia
-1.377
sex
female
0
male
-0.6847
size of facility
< 180 beds
0
>= 180 beds
-0.6436
provider age
0.0274 * ((age) / 10)
severe dementia
no
0
yes
0.6575
X =
= SUM(points for all 7 parameters) - 2.2129
probability of no antibiotic therapy =
= 1 / (1 + EXP((-1) * X))
probability of antibiotic therapy =
= 1 - (probability of no antibiotic therapy)
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
