Chest Infections

Question 1

Name the two common chest infections (Lower respiratory tract infections)

Answer 1

Acute bronchitis
Community acquired pneumonia

Question 2

Causative organism of acute bronchitis

Answer 2

Usually viral - most commonly rhinovirus, influenza, enterovirus

Can be bacterial e.g. strep pneumoniae

Question 3

Causative organism of CAP

Answer 3

Most commonly strep pneumoniae

Others include H.influenzae, staph aureus, legionella

Question 4

Presentation of chest infections

Answer 4

Cough - most common symptom

BRONCHITIS
-cough may be dry or productive
-wheeze
-dyspnoea
-chest wall pain when coughing

CAP
-always be productive
-dyspnoea
-pleural pain
-sweating, fever, aches and pains.

Question 5

Prognosis of acute brochitits

Answer 5

usually mild and self limiting and lasts around 2-3 weeks

Question 6

Complications of CAP - 5

Answer 6

Pleural effusion
Empyema
Lung absscess
ARDs
Sepsis

Question 7

Management of acute bronchitis

Answer 7

• advise on self care e.g. fluids, paracetamol and ibuprofen
• advise to seek help if symptoms worsen rapidly

-antibiotics not routinely prescribed, only if very unwell systemically

Question 8

Management of CAP

Answer 8

• Antibiotics. 1st line is amoxicillin or doxycycline or clarithromycin
• advise on self care - rest, fluids, analgesia