Pneumonia Flashcards
What is pneumonia?
An infection of the lung tissue causing inflammation in the alveolar space
How does pneumonia appear on a chest x-ray?
As a consolidation
What type of infection is pneumonia classified as?
A lower respiratory tract infection
What does acute bronchitis refer to?
Infection and inflammation in the bronchi and bronchioles
What are the classifications of pneumonia?
- Community-acquired pneumonia
- Hospital-acquired pneumonia (>48hrs in hospital)
- Ventilator-acquired pneumonia (ICU patients)
- Aspiration pneumonia
What is aspiration pneumonia?
Infection develops due to aspiration of food or fluids, usually in patients with impaired swallowing
What bacteria is usually associated with aspiration pneumonia?
Anaerobic bacteria
List common clinical features of pneumonia symptoms.
- Cough
- Sputum production
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Malaise
- Haemoptysis
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Delirium
What are the chest signs of pneumonia?
- Bronchial breath sounds
- Focal coarse crackles
- Dullness to percussion
What does the CRB-65/CURB-65 severity assessment include?
- C - confusion (new)
- U - urea >7
- R - respiratory rate ≥30
- B - blood pressure <90 systolic or ≤60 diastolic
- 65 - age ≥65
What does a CRB-65/CURB-65 score of 0/1 indicate?
Low risk (<3%) and consider treatment at home
What does a CRB-65/CURB-65 score of 2 indicate?
Intermediate risk (3-15%) and consider hospital admission
What does a CRB-65/CURB-65 score of 3-5 indicate?
High risk (>15%) and consider intensive care
What are the top causes of pneumonia?
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae
What is atypical pneumonia?
Caused by organisms that cannot be cultured in the normal way or detected using a gram stain
Which antibiotics are effective for treating atypical pneumonia?
- Macrolides (e.g. clarithromycin)
- Fluoroquinolones (e.g. levofloxacin)
- Tetracyclines (e.g. doxycycline)
What is legionella pneumophila associated with?
Legionnaires’ disease caused by inhaling infected water
What condition can legionella pneumophila cause?
SIADH leading to hyponatraemia
What is mycoplasma pneumoniae known for?
Milder pneumonia and erythema multiforme rash
What are the characteristics of erythema multiforme?
Varying-sized ‘target lesions’ formed by pink rings with pale centres
What is coxiella burnetii linked to?
Exposure to body fluids of animals, typically farmers with flu-like illness
What is chlamydia psittaci associated with?
Contact with infected birds, typically parrot owners
What mnemonic helps remember the 5 causes of atypical pneumonia?
Legions of psittaci MCQs
What does pneumocystis jirovecii cause?
Fungal pneumonia in immunocompromised patients, especially HIV
