**4. Economic burden**

Pneumonia is one of the most common causes of economic burden across the globe involving great exploitation of health resources. World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that more death of children occurs due to pneumonia than any other diseases. According to a study conducted in India [11], the average cost per patient not put on ventilator is INR 27,123, whereas the cost associated with ventilated patient is almost twice INR 44,812. Ventilator support is the most expensive intervention adding to the cost of care followed by the cost of antibiotics and investigations and still making the patient more prone to complicated infections like biofilm. Thus, the disease adds significantly to the cost of hospital care and to the length of hospital stay. The situation does not seem to improve as antibiotic pipeline is virtually dry and the resistance appears to be further mounting in most parts of the world as per the latest Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (CDDEP) reports.
