PNEUMONIA Flashcards
What is pneumonia?
inflammation of the lung parenchyma with the normal air-filled lungs becoming filled with infective liquid (consolidation)
Whats the most common microorganism type to cause pneumonia?
Bacteria
How can bacteria reach the lungs to cause pneumonia?
Inhalation
Aspiration
Rare - Haematogenous e.g. staph aureus with IV drug users
Whats the most common causative pathogen of CAP?
Streptococcus pneumoniae (80% of cases)
Others - H.influenza, staph aureus, atypical pneumonias and viruses
What atypical bacteria cause CAP?
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Chlamydia psittaci (parrots!)
Legionella pneumophila
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Coxiella Burnetti (Q fever)
What viruses cause CAP?
Influenza A and B
RSV
Adenovirus
Some coronaviruses
What are the 2 presentations of CAP?
Typical - classic symptoms
Atypical - insidious onset, subacute onset, pulmonary and extra pulmonary symptoms
What is HAP?
efined by NICE as a pneumonia contracted > 48 hrs after hospital admission that was not incubating at the time of admission.
What organisms are most likely to cause HAP?
Gram-negative bacilli (e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
Staphylococcus aureus
Legionella pneumophila
Which groups of pt are at risk of aspiration pneumonia?
Reduced conscious level
Neuromuscular disorders
Oesophageal conditions
Mechanical interventions such as endotracheal tubes.
Hospitalised pt on PPI
What organisms are most common with aspiration pneumonia?
Bacteria that usually reside in the oral cavity
Aerobic e.g. streptococcus pneumonia, staph aureus, H.influenza, pseudomonas aeruginosa, klebsiella (klebsiella - mostly in alcoholics)
Anaerobic - bactericides, prevotella, fusobacterium, peptostreptococcus
What is Mendelson’s syndrome?
a chemical pneumonitis caused by aspiration of acidic gastric contents
Most commonly associated with anaesthesia
What are likely causative organisms in immunocompromised patients?
Bacteria: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila, and Staphylococcus aureus.
Viruses: RSV, influenza virus, CMV, HSV, VZV.
Fungi: Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Pneumocystis jirovecii, and Cryptococcus neoformans.
Parasites: Toxoplasma gondii and Strongyloides stercoralis.
What type of CAP does streptococcus typically cause?
Lobar pneumonia
What is idiopathic interstitial pneumonia?
a group of non-infective causes of pneumonia e.g. bronchiolitis that develops as a complication of RA
What is atypical pneumonia?
pneumonia caused by an organism that cannot be cultured in the normal way or detected using a gram stain. They don’t respond to penicillins
What are the significant features of strep pneumoniae?
Associated with high fever, rapid onset and reactivation of herpes labialis (cold sores)
Rust coloured sputum
Frequently causes significant leukocytosis and raised CRP
Who is pneumonia caused by haemophilus influenza most common in?
Pt with COPD
What are the significant features of staph aureus-caused pneumonia?
Often occurs in patient following influenza infection
What are the important features of pneumonia caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae?
It tends to affect a younger demographic and occurs in cyclical epidemics i.e. every 4 years.
It causes an atypical pneumonia with a prolonged, insidious onset and often presents with a dry cough. It may exhibit extrapulmonary features.
Extrapulmonary features include:
Erythema multiforme (target lesions)
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Arthralgia
Neurological symptoms in young patients
Myocarditis, pericarditis
What are the important features of pneumonia caused by legionella pneumophilia?
Atypical pneumonia. Chest symptoms may be preceded by several days of myalgia, headache and fever
Hyponatraemia secondary to SIADH and lymphophenia are common. Can also cause hypophosphataemia and raised serum ferritin.
Classically seen secondary to infected air conditioning units, humidifiers and showers
Who typically gets pneumonia caused by klebsiella pneumoniae?
Alcoholics
Which microorganism causes a pneumonia with a sputum with red-current jelly appearance?
Klebsiella pneumoniae