Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or chemical irritants. It is a serious infection or inflammation in which the air sacs fill with pus and other liquid. The following graphs show how MUSC handled certain factors when treating patients with pneumonia compared to the national average, the state average and hospitals ranked in the top 10%. In some cases, the state and national averages were not reported. The numbers reported are from April through June 2009. In all cases, a higher score is better.
Pneumococcal screening and/or vaccination-Pneumonia patients age 65 and older who were screened for pneumococcal vaccine status and were administered the vaccine prior to discharge, if indicated. * Top of page Pneumonia patients age 50 years and older, hospitalized during October, November, December, January, or February who were screened for influenza vaccine status and were vaccinated prior to discharge, if indicated. This graph is the result of January, February and March 2007. * Top of page Initial antibiotic received within 6 hours of hospital arrival. Pneumonia patients who receive their first dose of antibiotics within 8 hours after arrival at the hospital; Pneumonia patients who receive their first dose of antibiotics within 4 hours after arrival at the hospital. * Top of page Blood Cultures Performed in the Emergency Department Prior to Initial Antibiotic Received in Hospital - Pneumonia patients whose initial emergency room blood culture specimen was collected prior to first hospital dose of antibiotics. * Top of page Adult smoking cessation advice/counseling-Pneumonia patients with a history of smoking cigarettes who are given smoking cessation advice or counseling during hospital stay. * Top of page 
Immunocompetent patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia who receive an initial antibiotic regimen during the first 24 hours that is consistent with current guidelines. * *Source: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Joint Commission "Specifications Manual for National Hospital Quality Measures." Top of page | 
