Pneumonia is the leading cause of adult hospitalization in the United States — an estimated one million people are admitted each year — and the debilitating lower respiratory tract infection represents one of the greatest lethal challenges in global health. Both community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital/ventilator-acquired pneumonia (HAP/VAP) are associated with high morbidity, healthcare expenditures, and subsequent mental and physical impairments.
Despite this notable prevalence, pneumonia is difficult to diagnose, and finding the infectious cause of pneumonia is even harder.
KL2 scholar Chiagozie Pickens, M.D., M.Sc., has focused her research on this topic. As an assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Dr. Pickens is committed to the implementation of diagnostic excellence in the move toward a precision medicine approach for pneumonia. She presented her findings at a recent Department of Medicine Medical Grand Rounds event.
Diagnostic excellence is achieved through the acquisition of a precise and accurate patient diagnosis. Dr. Pickens is optimistic this approach will improve the current diagnostic routine, which streamlines identification with a chest X-ray, antibiotic treatment, and general monitoring across patients. This current clinical diagnosis has garnered poor interrater reliability as the lung is particularly challenging to evaluate...
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