Jackson: Lower Respiratory Tract Infections Flashcards
Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Children vs adults:
• Age is a key determinant for pneumonia:
o Children: viruses are primary causes; bacteria cause secondary infections
o Adult: depends on a variety of risk factors
Adult pneumonia may be CA or HA/Nosocomial
CA Risks:
HA Risks:
o CA Risks: alcohol abuse, occupational exposure, underlying condition
o HA Risks: immunocompromise and mechanical ventilation
Atypical pneumonias are caused by:
also defined as:
• Atypical pneumonias are caused by a pathogen other than S.pneumo: also defined as primary pneumonia that did NOT involve an initiating viral infection
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) Virulence Factors (Relevant to Lower Respiratory Tract Infections): (3)
o Polysccharide capsule (90 serotypes)
o Pneumolysin
o Cell Wall TA and Peptidoglycan
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) Polysccharide capsule (90 serotypes): Prevents: (2) Facilitates: What confers host immunity?
o Polysccharide capsule (90 serotypes): primary virulence factor
• Prevents complement deposition (C3b)
• Prevents phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages
• Facilitates evasion of lung surfactant
• Abs to capsule confer host immunity
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) Pneumolysin: Damages membranes (related to?) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_is cell membrane receptor Acts on several cell types:
o Pneumolysin: sulfhydryl activated cytolysin (hemolysin)
• Damages membranes (related to SLO); subunits oligomerize in cell membrane to form a pore
• Cholesterol is cell membrane receptor
• Acts on several cell types (pulmonary epithelium, PMNs and monocytes)
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus)
Pneumolysin
Role in Pathognesis
Evasion of:
Clearance from:
May permit:
Cell-bound form activates:
- Evasion of the immune response and clearance from nasopharynx
- May permit spread to bloodstream from alveoli (bacteremia)
- Cell-bound form activates complement, contributes to inflammation
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) Cell Wall TA and Peptidoglycan
Gram (+) Shock:
Activates:
Production of:
Gram (+) Shock: strong inflammatory response (similar to LPS in G negative); inflammation elicits fever and lung damage (bloody sputum)
- Activate alternate complement pathway
- Production of IL-1 and TNF alpha
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus)
Exclusively a human pathogen:
Transmission:
Exclusively a human pathogen: many asymptomatic carriers (transient carriage also possible)
Transmission: person to person (droplet spread)
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus)
Recurrent pneumococcal pneumonia:
Note:
Recurrent pneumococcal pneumonia: is a presenting manifestation of AIDS
Note: Most common cause of acute bacterial pneumonia in any age group
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus)
Establishment of Organism in Lower Respiratory Tract:
Common causes of compromised cough:
Aspiration of pneumococci from middle respiratory tract
Compromised cough reflex permits entry into lower respiratory tract
- Common Causes: stroke, alcoholism, drugs, anesthesia, viral infection
• Alveolar Abs usually clear pneumococci from lower respiratory tract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) Acute Pneumonia
Cough:
Inflammatory Response:
o Acute Pneumonia: infection of lung parenchyma
• Cough: with productive sputum (purulent material from alveoli)
• Inflammatory Response:
➢ Complement components increase vascular permeability (fluid accumulates)
➢ Disrupted gas exchange (suffocation)
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) Secondary Complications
Bacteremia:
Acute Purulent Meningitis:
Pneumococci adhere to:
Pneumococci breach:
Bacteremia: due to inflammatory response and damage to endothelial cells
Acute Purulent Meningitis: bacteremia may lead to meningitis
- Pneumococci adhere to vascular endothelium in CNS and cause cell death
- Pneumococci breach BBB/BCB to enter CSF
.
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus)
Sputum Gram Stain:
Major Problem:
Sputum Gram Stain: important diagnostic tool, but issues
Major Problem: contamination with flora from oropharynx
➢ Sputum is MONOMICROBIC and contains PMNs
➢ Contaminating saliva is POLYMICROBIC and has squamous epithelial cells
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus)
G+/-?
Hemolysis:
Lancefield Grouping:
- G(+) lancet shaped diplococcic
- Alpha-hemolytic
- No Lancefield grouping
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus)
Biochemical Tests: (4)
- Capsular serotyping
- Quelling reaction (anti-capsule Abs)
- Optochin (P disk) sensitive
- Bile soluble (distinguish from viridians strep
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus)
Blood Culture:
- Detects bacteremia and confirms sputum sample
* Latex agglutination used to detect circulating pneumococcal Abs
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus)
Radiology:
o Radiology: shows bronchopneumonia that can consolidate to lobar pneumonia
Haemophilus influenzae Virulence Factors (Relevant to Lower Respiratory Tract Infections):
Polysaccharide capsule
• Anti-phagocytic
• Subject to Ag variation
• Hib most virulent (capsular serotype B)
Haemophilus influenzae
Normal Flora:
Transmission:
Peak Age Group:
o Normal Flora: commonly in upper respiratory tract
• Humans can be carriers of both encapsulated and non-encapsulated (non-typable) strains
o Transmission: person to person (droplet)
o Peak Age Group: 2-5 years old
Haemophilus influenzae
Pneumonia: can be caused by both encapsulated and non-encapsulated strains
Encapsulated:
Hib pneumonia:
Encapsulated: similar disease to pneumococcal pneumonia
- Hib pneumonia: increased virulence with a higher incidence of positive blood cultures (less common than non-typable because lower colonization rates)
Haemophilus influenzae
Pneumonia: can be caused by both encapsulated and non-encapsulated strains
Non-Encapsulated:
• Non-Encapsulated: less virulent
Haemophilus influenzae
Predisposing Factors of Nontypable Pneumonia: (3)
o Chronic bronchitis
o Emphysema
o Obstructive pulmonary disease
Haemophilus influenzae
Acute Epiglotittitis:
Acute Epiglotittitis: can also be caused by H.influenzae