Recurrent pneumonia in adults is not uncommon. However, there is no domestic data about recurrent pneumonia in adults. Therefore, we investigated the associated diseases and clinical findings of recurrent pneumonia in adults.

Among 5513 patients who were treated in five teaching hospitals of Hallym medical center?over a 5-year period, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the 58 who were compatible with diagnostic criteria of recurrent pneumonia.

The number of patients with recurrent pneumonia was 58 (1.05%, 58/5513) during the 5 years. Thirty-seven patients were male and 21 were female. Mean age was 66.4 (±14.9) years. Median interval between each pneumonic episode was 18.5 months. Associated diseases were 25 cases of respiratory diseases, 13 of heart diseases, 13 of diabetes mellitus, 7 of lung malignancies, 11 of malignancies other than lung, 7 of neurologic disease, and 8 of miscellaneous diseases. Three cases had no underlying illness. Of the 8 cases with 2 or more times of recurrence, 4 were associated with respiratory diseases, 2 with aspiration pneumonia due to neurologic diseases, 1 with heart disease and 1 with no underlying illness. Recurrent pneumonic episodes affecting the same location were 30 of the total recurrent pneumonic episodes (30/67, 47.8%) and common associated diseases were respiratory diseases including lung malignancies. The etiology of recurrent pneumonia was Streptococcus pneumoniae, methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, atypical organisms, etc.

Recurrent pneumonia in adults had a low incidence rate compared with children, but most cases had associated illness. Respiratory diseases including lung cancer were the most common associated illness of recurrent pneumonia.