Pneumonia Flashcards
Define Lower Respiratory Tract Infection / Pneumonia?
Refers to an infection causing inflammation of the alveoli and terminal bronchioles.
Leads to consolidation of bronchopulmonary segment or lobe.
This means that tissue is filled with inflammatory cells and oedema.
Key signs to look out for in Lower Respiratory Tract Infection / Pneumonia?
Rapid onset of:
- high fever
- productive cough
Risk factors for pneumonia?
- Infants and elderly
- Smoking
- Alcohol excess
- Recent viral infections
- Bronchial obstruction: COPD
- Bronchiectasis
- Immunosuppression: AIDS, chemotherapy
- Hospitalisation
- Underlying predisposing disease: Diabetes, CVD
Most common/common/uncommon causes of pneumonia?
Most common:
- strep pneumonia
Common:
- staph aureus
- mycoplasma pneumoniae
- haemophilus influenzae
Uncommon:
- klebsiella pneumonia
- strep pyogenes
- pseudomonas, aeruginosa
- Coxiella burnetti
- Chlamydia psittaci
- Actinomyces Israeli
How is pneumonia classified?
Community acquired
Hospital acquired (nosocomial)
Pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals
Presentation of pneumonia?
Fever
Malaise
Rigors
Cough
Purulent sputum
Pleuritic chest pain
Haemoptysis
Tachypnoea
Tachycardia
Hypotension
Cyanosis
Pyrexia
Dull percussion
Increased vocal resonance/ tactile vocal fremitus
Pleural rub
Bronchial breathing - this is a higher pitch and inspiration and expiration are equal. There is an audible pause between inspiration and expiration.
How are bacterial causes of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) classified?
Typical
- classical rapid onset of symptoms, including high fever and productive cough.
Atypical
- more gradual onset of symptoms, which may be non-specific initially (fever, myalgia, dry cough).
Typical bacterial causes for community acquired pneumonia (CAP)?
Streptococcus pneumoniae (gram +ve cocci found in pairs)
Staphylococcus aureus
Haemophilus influenzae (gram -ve rod, potent beta-lactamase producer)
Moraxella catarrhalis (gram -coccus, potent beta-lactamase producer)
Atypical bacterial causes for community acquired pneumonia (CAP)?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Legionella pneumophila
Coxiella burnettii
Chlamydia psittaci
Not detectable on gram stain.
Who does atypical pneumonia commonly affect? Treatment for atypical pneumonia?
Atypical bacteria commonly affects healthier people.
Macrolides or doxycycline
Viral causes for community acquired pneumonia (CAP)?
Influenza A
HSV
CMV
VZV
Fungal causes for community acquired pneumonia (CAP)?
Candida - dimorphic yeast
Aspergillus - fungus with hyphae
Cryptococcus - encapsulated yeast
Causes in COPD and community acquired pneumonia (CAP)?
Pneumococcus -MOST COMMON
Haemophilus influenzae
Morexella catarrhalis
Causes in cystic fibrosis and community acquired pneumonia (CAP)?
Staph aureus
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Burkholderia cepacia
Causes in homeless/malnourished/alcohol or drug dependent/immunosuppressed patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP)?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Aspiration pneumonia (consider in pt with an UNSAFE SWALLOW or DEPRESSED CONSCIOUSNESS)
Klebsiella pneumoniae (RED CURRENT JELLY sputum, causes lung abscess and empyema)
Investigations for community acquired pneumonia (CAP)?
Bloods:
- FBC
- U&Es
- CRP
- LFTs
- WCC
Blood cultures
Sputum culture
ABG
PCR for mycoplasma pneumonia
Urinary antigen tests for Legionella and pneumococcus
CXR (identify lobar, multi-lobar, cavitation and signs of pleural effusion)
Pleural fluid aspiration (if pt has pleural effusion)
Complications of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection / Pneumonia?
Pleural effusion
Empyema (suspect if persistent, swinging fever with leucocytosis found after abx therapy)
Abscess (can be caused by S. pneumoniae, Klebsiella, staph aureus; can develop pyopneumothorax)
Pneumothorax
Septicemia
AF
Post-infective bronchiectasis