12. Respiratory Tract Infections Flashcards
What are the risk factors for someone who presents with a cough
History of smoking (pack years)
Occupational history
Medication history (ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, aspirin)
history of contact with someone who has TB
Name some differentials diagnosis of an acute cough (less than 3 weeks)
Influenza COVID 19 Viral URTI pneumonia lung cancer pericarditis infective exacerbation of COPD bronchiectasis TB SBE (subacute bacterial endocarditis) PE
when taking a history of someone with a new onset cough, what do you want to know about the cough
the onset and duration of the cough
wether it is productive/non productive
the timing of the cough ie is it worse at night or worse with the seasons
any associated symptoms
if there is sputum production the colour/amount of sputum
In someone with a URTI what associated symptoms would you expect them to have which would help you to differentiate this
rhinorrea ( production of watery, mucus, nasal discharge)
odynphagia (painful swallowing)
myalgia (muscle discomfort
fever
if someone has a productive cough then what differentials would you be thinking of
pneumonia bronchitis bronchiectasis pulmonary odema TB
if someone has a non-productive dry cough then what differentials would you be thinking of
asthma
interstitial lung disease (one that causes scarring of the lung)
viral pneumonia
What are the differentiating symptoms of COVID 19
fever
SOB
dry cough
anosmia
what are the differentiating symptoms of influenza
general aches and pains, autumn and winter timing
what are the differentiating symptoms of a viral URTI
sore throat, nasal congestion, cough and feeling generally unwell
what are the differentiating factors of pneumonia
sputum is green yellow brown fever chest pain SOB unwell patient
what are the differentiating factors of lung cancer
haemoptysis
weight loss
persistant cough
ex smoker
what are the differentiating factors of pericarditis
chest pain that is relieved on sitting forwards, usually following a viral infection
what are the differentiating factors of infective exacerbation of COPD
increased sputum production and SOB
background of COPD or smoking history
what are the differentiating factors of bronchhiectasiss
chronic productive cough, breathlessness
what are the differentiating factors of TB
swinging fever weight loss anorexia productive cough haemoptysis contact with TB case high risk person (country of birth, homeless, immunosuppression)
what are the differentiating factors of PE
sudden onset of sharp pain felt when breathing in, breathlessness, haemoptysis
When should you think: could this be sepsis?
for a person of any age with a possible infection, even if they do not have a high temperature
What acute phase protein would be raised if someone has an infection and what blood marker
CRP & WCC
what two bacterial antigens can you test from someones urine
pneumococcal & legionella antigen
what is lactate a product of
anaerobic respiration and so would be increased in sepsis and shock
How can you describe CAP simply
signs of lower respiratory tract infection (fever, cough, phlegm, crepitations or bronchial breathing) + CXR changes
what are the red flags to ask about when someone presents with a cough
persistent fever, night sweats and weight loss
Dyspnoea ( CCF, asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease)
hemoptysis
severe pleuritic pain
history of contact with someone with HIV or TB
What is the CURB-65 score
this is used to assess the patients risk of mortality of CAP to help determine outpatient vs inpatient treatment
what does CURB65 stand for
C- Confusion U- urea greater than 7 mmol/L R- RR more than 30 B- Blood pressure systolic less than 90 or diastolic less than 60 65- if the person is 65 or older
how does the CURB65 score relate to management
score of 0-1 then likely suitable for home treatment
score of 2 then consider hospital supervised treatment
score of 3 or more then manage in hospital as severe pneumonia
What is the NEWS2 score
this is 6 simple physiological parameters that form the basis of the scoring system RR O2 Systolic BP pulse level of consciousness/new confusion temperature
how would you describe pneumonia simply
an infection of the lung tissue that causes inflammation of the lung tissue and sputum filling the airways and alveoli
what does pneumonia show up as on an x ray
consolidation
how does pneumonia usually present (symptoms)
SOB
cough productive of sputum
fever
haemoptysis (coughing up blood)
pleuritic chest pain (sharp chest pain that is worse on inspiration)
Delirium (acute confusion associated with the infection)
Sepsis
What signs indicate pneumonia and possible sepsis secondary to the pneumonia
Tachypnoea (raised RR)
tachycardia (rasied HR)
hypoxia (low O2)
hypotension (shock)
fever
confusion
bronchial breath sounds on inspiration and expiration (caused by consolidation of the lung tissue around the airway)
focal coarse crackles (air passing through sputum in the airways similar to using a straw to blow into a drink)
dullness to percussion due to lung tissue collapse or consolidation
in the CURB-65 what parameter do you not count if you are out of hospital
urea
What are the common bacterial causes of pneumonia
Streptococcus pneumonia (50%)
haemophilus influenza (20%)
Moraxella catarrhalis in immunocompromised patients or those with chronic pulmonary disease
Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis
Staphylococcus aureus in patients with CF
what is an atypical pneumonia and how is it treated
pneumonia caused by an organism that cannot be cultured in the normal way or detected using a gram stain
Don’t respond to penicillins can be treated with macrolides (e.g. clarithomycin), fluoroquinolones (e.g. levofloxacin) or tetracyclines (e.g. doxycycline).
what kind of bacteria is streptococcus pneumoniae
gram positive coccus
what kind of bacteria is haemophilius influenza
gram negative bacillus
Name the 5 causes of atypical pneumonia
hint the pneumonic is ‘legions of psittacis MCQ
M- mycoplasma pneumoniae
C- Chlamydydophila pneumoniae
Q- Q fever (corella burrnetti)
Legionella
Chlamydia pscittaci
what is legionella pneumophilia caused by and what is the typical exam patient
infected water supply or air conditioning units
typical exam patient has recently has a cheap hotel holiday and presents with hyponatraemia
what is mycoplasma pneumonia and what kind of patient does it cause neurological symptoms
milder pneumonia that causes a rash called erythema multiform which is characterised by varying sized ‘target lesions’ formed by pink rings with pale centres
can cause neurological symptoms in young patient
what is the common presentations of chlamoydophila pneumonia
school aged child with a mild to moderate chronic pneumonia and wheeze
what is the typical exam patient who presents with Q fever (coxiella burnetii)
linked to exposure to animals and their bodily fluids so MCQ patient is a farmer with a flu like illness
how is chlamydia psittaci usually contracted and what is the typical MCQ patient
contracted from contact with infected birds
MCQ patient is from a parrot owner
what fungal pneumonia can occur in patients that are immunocomprised
pneumocystis jiroveci (PCP) particularly important in patients with poorly controlled or new HIV with a low CD4 count