11. Pathology of Respiratory Tract Infection Flashcards
Are lung infections multifactorial or dependent on a single factor?
multifactorial
What is a primary pathogen?
- Organism that causes the disease when it gains entrance to the host’s body and stresses victim’s immune system.
- “the bad ones”
- cause an infection in any human they encounter
What is a facultative pathogen?
- seen the most in patients in clinical practice
- can reproduce either inside or outside host/ cells
- “need a bit of help”
- predisposing pulmonary pathology can lead to establishment of facultative organisms
What is an opportunistic pathogen?
- takes advantage of a host with a weakened immune system or disrupted gut flora for example
- least pathogenic organism
What are the two most important factors that influence the capacity to resist an infection?
- state of host defence mechanism (patient’s immunity)
2. age of patient
What level of sterility are upper resp. tract and lower resp. tract?
URT= non-sterile LRT= sterile
What are 6 very common URT infections?
- coryza (common cold)
- sore throat syndrome
- acute laryngotracheobronchitis (croup)
- laryngitis
- sinusitis
- acute epiglottis
What is the main cellular pathology of the URT infections?
inflammation (acute or chronic)
What is epiglottis?
- cartilaginous flap which prevents food and liquid from falling into airways
- stays open to allow easy movement of air but closes during swallowing for protection
Describe features of acute epiglottitis.
- inflammation of epiglottis causing swelling and blockage of airways
- affects young children often
- can be severe and life threatening
What 2 types of bacteria cause acute epiglottitis?
- Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci
- haemophilus influenze (type b- Hib)
What are common LRT infections?
- bronchitis
- bronchiolitis
- pneumonia
- consequences (of another infection)
- possible complications (of other infections)
What is the MOST important respiratory tract defence mechanism?
macrophage-mucocilliary escalator system
What 3 other respiratory tract defence mechanisms exist?
- General immune system (humoral and cell mediated immunity)
- Respiratory tract secretions (antibacterial components of secretions which contribute to mucociliary system)
- Upper respiratory tract acts as a “filter” (nose)
Failure in the 3 respiratory tract defence mechanisms can lead to what?
increasing risk for respiratory tract infections as viruses and bacteria are not removed
How does the URT act as a “filter”?
- Nose (component of URT) acts as a filter as when air flows into the nose, the flow is turbulent
- Surface of resp. tract is lined with mucus, cilia and moisture
- Particles are deposited in the resp.tract (e.g. nasal hair)
What features of the air are important in the mucociliary escalator system? (2)
humidity and temperature
What are the 3 components of macrophage-mucociliary escalator system?
- alveolar macrophages
- mucociliary escalator
- cough reflex
Describe the role of cilia in particle clearance of the lungs.
- Cilia beat the mucus in coordinated fashion as escalator moves only up and out of the lung (flowing carpet of mucus)
- Mucus sweeps any foreign particles away from the resp. tract
Describe the role of alveolar macrophages in in particle clearance of the lungs.
- found in alveoli region
- phagocytose foreign particles which enter lower resp. tract by clearing up
- macrophages deposit particles onto the moving mucociliary escalator which removes it via the escalator moving upwards towards URT
- macrophages enter interstitial pathway via lymph to the lymph nodes to be used again
Where are many foreign particles found in the LRT?
deposition on the terminal bronchioles/proximal alveoli
Where is muco-ciliary escalator found?
on the conducting airways towards URT (build up at the back of throat that is often swallow is due to particles building up that have been removed from the lungs)
What clearance mechanism is used to keep the LRT sterile?
muco-ciliary escalator
What happens if defence mechanism fail?
secretions with bacteria and viruses are retained in the lung leading to infection
What happens if a respiratory virus is inhaled?
- virus infects cells to survive and kills the cell which it uses for replication
- causes damage to respiratory epithelium
- this leads to abnormal cells with no cilia and sometimes the whole epithelium is stripped
When do bacterial infections often occur in relation to viral infections?
Often AFTER viral infections because viruses cause the damage first which makes person more susceptible to bacteria
What are the 3 classifications of pneumonia when approaching the disease?
- anatomical (radiology, how it looks on imaging)
- Aetiological (cause/circumstance, how the disease occured, allows doctors to predict organism)
- Microbiological ( appropriate ultimately for treatment, material from patient obtained and sent to microbiology for testing)
What are the 5 aetiological classifications of pneumonia?
- community acquired pneumonia
- hospital acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia
- pneumonia in immunocompromised
- atypical pneumonia
- aspiration pneumonia
- recurrent pneumonia
What is meant by community acquired pneumonia?
- Person had little contact with healthcare system
- Most common type
What is meant by hospital acquired pneumonia (nosocomial)?
- contracted in healthcare environment
- more antibiotic organisms exist
What is meant by atypical pneumonia?
-unusual agents (bacteria) present
What is meant by pneumonia in immunocompromised?
high mortality rates for patients with weak immune systems
What is meant by aspiration pneumonia?
- Entrance of foreign material into bronchial tree; usually oral or gastric contents such as saliva, food, nasal secretions or vomit causing infection
- acidity of the aspirate can lead to chemical pneumonitis
What is meant by recurring pneumonia?
- patient comes back episode after episode especially in the same place in the lung
- indicates serious infection that needs attention
What is the most common bacterium to cause pneumonia outside hospitals?
Streptococcus pneumoniae (causes half of all pneumonias)
What are 2 bacteria can cause pneumonia?
- haemophilus influenzae; common in patients with pre-existing lung disease such as chronic bronchitis
- staphylococcus aureus; more common in children and intravenous drug users
Can pneumonia be also caused by viruses?
Yes, most commonly influenza A virus
What are 3 types of patterns of pneumonia?
- bronchopneumonia
- segmental
- lobar
What is bronchopneumonia?
More widespread infection in bronchi and bronchioles (widespread lung inflammation)
What is lobar/segmental pneumonia?
- refers to infection of one lobe of the lung
- lobar and segmental almost the same thing
- segmental refers to segment of lobe affected
What is hypostatic pneumonia?
- has accumulation of fluid in the lung as they settle in one part of the lung increasing chance of infection
- common in elderly who remain in one position for long periods
- failure to drain bronchial secretions or pulmonary oedema from chronic bronchitis or heart failure patients
- fluid builds up in R.ventricle causing infection as it sits in lower part of lung
- fluid lies at the bottom ready for infection and doesn’t move