Evaluation of multi-component interventions for prevention of nosocomial pneumonia in older adults: a randomized, controlled trial

Key Summary points Aim RCT to evaluate the efficacy of multi-component interventions for prevention of hospital-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized older patients. Findings The multi-component interventions did not reduce hospital-acquired pneumonia but increased the mean time to next hospitalisation due to respiratory infection (11.5 months vs. 9.5 months; P = 0.049), and reduced the risk of hospitalisation in 1 year (18.6% vs. 34.4%; P = 0.049). This was likely due to the increased recognition of oropharyngeal dysphagia (35.6% vs. 20.3%; P < 0.001) and improved influenza (54.5% vs 17.2%; P < 0.001) and pneumococcal vaccination rates (52.5% vs. 20.3%; P < 0.001). Message A multi-component intervention for nosocomial pneumonia may not significantly reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia but significantly increases the frequency of diagnosis of oropharyngeal dysphagia, improves vaccination rates and can reduce future hospitalisations for respiratory infections in older adults.