Strategies for preventing and reducing the impact of acute respiratory failure from pneumonia.

Abstract

Introduction: Pneumonia remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). This review discusses prevention strategies for pneumonia-induced ARF, categorized into primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

Areas covered: A literature search was conducted through PubMed covering the years 2000-2024, using the keywords 'acute respiratory failure,' pneumonia prevention," 'risk stratification,' and 'preventive strategies.' Primary prevention focuses on reducing pneumonia risk through vaccination, smoking cessation, and comorbidity management. Secondary prevention involves early detection, risk assessment using clinical tools like the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) biomarkers, such as procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, appropriate antibiotic use, and emerging machine learning tools for real-time stratification. Tertiary prevention focuses on optimizing care with noninvasive respiratory support, lung-protective ventilation strategies, and ventilator bundles for intubated patients. Emerging therapies, including targeted use of corticosteroids and other immunomodulatory agents, are also discussed as promising adjuncts to current standards of care.

Expert opinion: While these prevention strategies show potential, continued research is necessary to refine these interventions, explore newer therapies and evaluate long-term outcomes. Implementation of these strategies aims to reduce the impact of pneumonia-induced ARF on healthcare systems and improve patient survival and quality of care.