Pneumonia

Question 1

Define pneumonia in one sentence

Answer 1

Acute infection of the lung parenchyma

Question 2

What are the predisposing factors to pneumonia?

Answer 2

Young/elderly, immunocompromised, bedridden, hospitalised etc

Question 3

What is the most common type of community pneumonia?

Answer 3

Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Question 4

What are common complications of pneumonia?

Answer 4

Pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura)
Pleural effusion (fluid in pleura space)
Atelectasis ( collapsed airless alveoli)
Bacteraemia (bacterial infection in the blood)
Lung abscess
Empysema- accumulation of purulent exudate in the pleural cavity, occurs in less than 5% of cases
Pericarditis
Meningitis from S. pneumoniae
Sepsis
Acute resp failure
Pneumothorax- when air collects in the pleural space, causing the lungs to collapse

Question 5

What is the aim of collaborative management?

Answer 5

Prompt treatment with the appropriate antibiotic
02 to treat hypoxaemia
Analgesica to relieve CP
Antipyretics
Mobility as tolerated

Question 6

Describe common nursing care and prevention

Answer 6

Health promotion- handwashing, nutrition, rest, exercise, couging
Identifying at risk patients
Mobilisation 
Collect sputum 
Hydration
Nutritional support 
Positioning

Question 7

What are the different types of pneumonia?

Answer 7

Bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma organisms, fungi, parasites and chemicals can all cause pneumonia.

Community-acquired pneumonia: is an acute infection of the lung occurring in patients who have not be hospitalised or resided in a LT care facility within 14 days of the onset of symptoms.

Medical-care associated pneumonia- encompasses HAP, ventilator and health-care associated pneumonia.

Aspiration pneumonia results from the abnormal entry of material from the mouth or stomach into the trachea and lungs. The aspirated material triggers an inflammatory response. The most common form of aspiration pneumonia is a primary bacterial infection.

Opportunistic pneumonia:altered immune response

Question 8

What are the signs and symptoms of pneuomonia?

Answer 8

Cough, fever, shaking chills, dyspnoea, tachynpnoea, pleuretic CP. Cough may or may not be productive. Non-specific S+S= diaphoresis, anorexia, fatigue, myalgias, headache, abdominal pain.

Question 9

What is the difference between Atypical and typical pneumonia?

Answer 9

Typical- sudden onset of fever, chills, cough productive of purulent sputum, pleuritic chest pain.

Physical examination- signs of pulmonary consolidation (dullness to percussion, bronchial breath sounds and crackles), confusion, stupor

Atpical- characterised by a more gradual onset, a dry cough and extrapulmonary manifestations such as headache, fatigue, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoa

On physical examination crackles are often heard