IC16 LRTI Flashcards
What are the possible LRTIs?
bronchitis
pneumonia
What is acute bronchitis?
acute cough that lasts for <3 weeks due to inflammation of the trachea & bronchi
Which pathogen is more likely to cause acute bronchitis?
virus > bacteria
How does acute bronchitis typically come about?
typically preceded by a viral URTI
How do we treat acute bronchitis?
no need treatment as it is self-limiting
When do we use antibiotics for acute bronchitis?
when the patient develops a bacterial superinfection as a complication of the acute bronchitis
How do we counsel a patient with acute bronchitis?
- the cough may last for 3 weeks
- abx is not needed as it will not help you recover from your cough faster
- see a Dr if you develop fever, SOB, chest pain, cough increases in extent/frequency, or significant cough persists >3 weeks
What is pneumonia?
infection of the alveoli due to proliferation of microbial pathogens at the alveolar level
What are the possible pathogens that can cause pneumonia?
bacteria, fungi, virus
Which pathogen is most likely to cause pneumonia?
bacteria
Describe the pathogenesis of pneumonia (how it comes about)
- bacteria enters the lower respiratory tract via 3 mechanisms
- bacteria proliferates in lower respiratory tract and alveoli
- pneumonia
Describe the various pathways that bacteria can enter our lower respiratory tract to cause pneumonia
- aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions (breathe in bacteria from your own oropharyngeal section)
- inhalation of aerosols (inhale droplets that contain the bacteria)
- hematogenous spreading (bacteremia from another distant infection site)
What are the risk factors for pneumonia?
- smoking (suppress neutrophil function + impair MCC + damage lung epithelium)
- chronic lung conditions (eg. asthma, COPD) (destroy lung tissue + creates niduses for bacteria to multiply)
- immune suppression (eg. HIV, sepsis, GC, chemotherapy)
What should we look out for when pneumonia is suspected?
- systemic symptoms
- localised symptoms
- physical exam
- CXR
- lab findings
- urinary antigen tests
What are the systemic symptoms that pneumonia presents with?
- fever
- chills
- malaise
- altered mental status in elderly
- tachycardia
- hypotension
What are the localised symptoms that pneumonia presents with?
- cough*
- chest pain
- SOB
- tachypnea (RR >22)
- hypoxia
- increased sputum production
What does the type of cough that presents with pneumonia tell us?
wet cough - due to Strep pneumoniae
dry cough - due to H influenzae
What results from the physical exam support the diagnosis of pneumonia?
- diminished breath sounds over affected area
- crackles when breathing in
What are the radiographic findings that support the diagnosis of pneumonia?
evidence of NEW infiltrates/dense consolidation in CXR
What are the general lab findings that support the diagnosis of pneumonia?
signs of systemic infection (high WBC, cRP, procalcitonin)
What is urinary antigen test for?
detect presence of strep pneumoniae/legionella pneumophilia
What do the results of the urinary antigen test tell us?
positive for strep pneumoniae/legionella pneumophilia = EXPOSURE to the bacteria
bacteria can be causing pneumonia now OR is from previous infection
When is urinary antigen test recommended for pneumonia?
- severe CAP
- hospitalized patients
What kind of cultures do we need to obtain for pneumonia?
- blood culture
- respiratory culture & gram-stain
(obtain pre-treatment)