1. Pneumonia

Question 1

Definition

Answer 1

• inflammation of the lung with consolidation and exudation
• often begins after URTI
• inflammation of terminal airways and alveoli of lung

Question 2

Causes

Answer 2

• infectious: bacteria, virus, fungi, other microbes

- non infectious: toxic gas, chemicals, smoke, aspiration of food and vomitus

Question 3

Types of Pneumonia

Answer 3

1. Lobar: consolidation of large portion of an entire lung lobe
2. Bronchopneumonia: patchy consolidation involving several lobes

Question 4

Pathophysiology

Answer 4

1. Causative organism
2. Inflammatory response
3. Bronchioles and alveoli become inflamed
4. Edema and exudate formation
5. Bronchioles and alveoli become filled with serous exudate, bacteria and cell debris
6. Exchange of gases interrupted by fluid
7. Consolidation of lung tissue

Question 5

Risk Factors

Answer 5

• smoking
• air pollution (toxic chemicals/smoke)
• URTI
• prolonged immobility
• older age
• immunocompromised (AIDS, Cancer)
• prolonged antibiotic therapy

Question 6

Clinical Manifestations

Answer 6

• fever with chills
• pleuritic chest pain
• tachypnea
• productive cough
• tachycardia
• dyspnea
• Orthoptera
• restlessness

Question 7

Diagnostic Tests

Answer 7

• history of RTI
• physical examination
• chest xray(determine extent of lung involvement)
• sputum gram stain (identify gram stain of infecting organism)
• sputum c and s (to identify causative organism to determine most effective antibiotic therapy)
• pulse oximetry
• FBC (elevated WBC)
• ABG (evaluate gas exchange)

Question 8

Treatments

Answer 8

• antibiotics
• MRSA infection (IV Vancomycin)
• Bronchodilators (reduce bronshospasm and improve ventilation) (salbuterol, theophylline)
• expectorants
• antipyretic
• antihistamine (reduce sneezing and rhinorrhea)

Question 9

Complications

Answer 9

• Pleurisy (pain caused by friction between layers of pleura)
• Lung abscess
• Pleural effusion
• Atelectasis (collapse of affected alveoli and associated lobes of lungs)