Pneumonia Flashcards
What lung tissue is affected?
Alveoli fill with fluid (consolidation and exudation)
Bronchial tree
What is community acquired pneumonia (CAP)?
acute lower respiratory infection associated with radiological signs - alveoli fill with fluid
Which groups are more likely to get CAP?
Very young
Elderly
How common is CAP?
5-11/1000 adults
How serious is CAP?
5th cause of death in UK
Symptoms
progressive breathlessness productive cough fever/shaking/chills unilateral chest pain that's aggravated by inspiration (sharp stabbing pain) dyspnoea headache confusion/unsteadiness general malaise/lethargy
Signs
Hot, flushed with peripheral dilatation dull to percussion increased breath sounds crackles pleural rub tachypnoea tachycardia hypoxia cyanosis high temp hypotension
What is a common cause of CAP?
Chicken pox
Why is hypotension a sign?
Decreasing peripheral arterial resistance
increased cardiac output
What type of gram positive bacteria cause CAP?
Aerobic
e.g. Staph aureus, Strep pneumoniae
What type of gram negative bacteria cause CAP?
aerobic
haemophilus
legionella
Treatment
antibiotics pleural aspiration drain Surgery DNAse into pleura to break down fluid oxygen analgesia fluids
physio
nutrition
stop smoking
How do you specificy the severity of CAP?
CURBA
Confusion (8 or less) Urea (>7) Resp rates (>30) Blood pressure (<90/60) Age (>65)
0 or 1 = home treatment
2 - consider hospital
3 or more = hospital management needed
Investigations
CXR showing consolidation (white wedge appearance outlining lobe of lung)
Blood/sputum culture
Atypical pneumonias
