Pneumonia

Question 1

What is pneumonia characterised by?

Answer 1

Inflammatory exudate fills the alveoli and bronchioles and blocks gas exchange from taking place

Question 2

How are cells reorganised due to pneumonia?

Answer 2

Neutrophils and fluid fill the alveoli and clump into masses of macrophages and fibroblasts

Question 3

What are some symptoms of bacterial pneumonia?

Answer 3

Fever, chills, dyspnoea, Cough with or without sputum, Crackles on auscultation, consolidation in radiograph

Question 4

How is pneumonia diagnosed?

Answer 4

Sputum culture analysis
X-ray
FBC

Question 5

What are the common causes of pneumonia?

Answer 5

Bacteria: Strep. Pneumoniae, Staph. Aureus, Haemo. influenzae, Klebsiella pneumonia, Legionella pneumophila
Viruses
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Pneumocystis jiroveci (fungi)
Inorganic agents (inhaled particles)

Question 6

What are the routes of infection?

Answer 6

Aspiration of oropharyngeal/gastric contents
Inhalation of pathogens
Contamination from systemic circulation

Question 7

What are the 3 methods of classification of pneumonia?

Answer 7

Anatomical classification
Clinical setting in which disease occurs (Community or hospital)
Culturally identified pathogen

Question 8

What are the types of anatomical classification?

Answer 8

Lobar - specific lobe is affected

Broncho - colonise in bronchioles and spread down the tree

Question 9

What are the possible outcomes of pneumonia?

Answer 9

Resolution
Organisation
Abscess formation
Empyema (pus collection in specific area)
Bacteraemia
Death