Certain Psychiatric Drugs Linked to Elevated Pneumonia Risk

Article

A review of published studies indicates that use of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine related drugs (BZRDs), which are prescribed to treat various psychiatric diseases, may increase the risk of pneumonia.

The International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry analysis included 12 reports related to 10 studies involving more than 120,000 pneumonia cases. After pooling the estimates, the odds for developing pneumonia were 1.25-fold higher in BZRD users compared with individuals who had not taken BZRDs.

There was an increased risk of pneumonia among current and recent users, but not past users.

Source: Wiley

Recent Videos
Damien Berg, BA, BS, CRCST, AAMIF, is the vice president of strategic initiatives for the HSPA.
Annet Adegboyega, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN, CNOR; Mihyun "Rose" Jang, MSN, MPH, BSN, RN, CNOR; and Renilda Tijones, MSN, BSN, RN, CNOR.
Roundtable of Vet IPs (Adobe Stock)
APIC 2025 President Carol McLay, DrPH, MPH, RN, CIC FAPIC (Image credit: APIC)
Paulo J. M. Brois, DVM, MSN, RN; Luisa M. P. Soares, RN; and Teresa A. Santos, RN, at #AORN2025
Michael Sinnott, MBBS, FACEM, FRACP, at 2025 AORN Global Conference & Expo.
Roundtable of Vet IPs
Meet Marjorie Wall, EDBA, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CSSBB.
A veterinarian in a protective suit takes tests on animals on a farm. (Adobe Stock 829620654 by Яна Ерік Татевосян)
Related Content
Avian Flu or Novel Influenza A (Adobe Stock unknown)

Development of a Novel Influenza A Standard Operating Procedure to Fulfill Public Health Reporting Requirements

Andrea Ankrum, MS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC
April 18th 2025
Article

Robust infectious disease surveillance, including rapid subtyping of influenza A, is essential for early detection, containment, and public health reporting of novel viral threats.

Hot Topics with Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC

ICT Hot Topics for April 17, 2025: WHO Member States, Measles, H5N1, and More

Saskia v. Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, FAPIC
April 17th 2025
Article

This week’s Infection Control Today’s Hot Topics in IPC discusses the latest in the measles outbreak, H5N1 in cattle herds, and more.

Lesley Barton is the National Clinical and Training Manager at Bunzl & AMHC. (Image credit: Author)

Telehealth and Home Care: Reducing Infection Risks for High-Risk Patients

Lesley Barton
April 17th 2025
Article

Telehealth and home care are vital for protecting high-risk patients by minimizing infection exposure, enhancing safety, and supporting prevention with technology-driven, home-based health solutions.

Charles Vickery, Jr, MSN, RN, CIC, CRCST, is the infection prevention supervisor at AdventHealth Celebration; and Nicholas DeStefano, BSN, RN, CNOR

Collaboration in Action: How One Hospital Stopped a Neurosurgical Infection Outbreak

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
April 16th 2025
Article
IP LifeLine From Infection Control Today.

IP LifeLine: Soft Power, Sharp Edges: Nice Gets You Nowhere…Unless You're a Man

Matthew D. White, MPH, CIC
April 16th 2025
Article

Infection prevention demands strength—but when vulnerability is praised in men and penalized in women, leadership becomes performance, not authenticity. It’s time to challenge that imbalance.

Carol McLay, DrPH, MPH, RN, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, 2025 APIC President (Photo credit: APIC)

Rebuilding Trust: How Infection Preventionists Can Lead in the Wake of Vaccine Doubt

Tori Whitacre Martonicz;Carol McLay, DrPH, MPH, RN, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA
April 15th 2025
Article

As measles cases rise and vaccine misinformation spreads, Infection Control Today spoke with APIC President Dr Carol McLay about restoring trust in immunization.