Respiratory Flashcards
2 common lower respiratory tract infections
Pneumonia
Tuberculosis
Define pneumonia
Acute inflammation of lung parenchyma (terminal bronchioles and area surrounding the alveoli)
Usually caused by an infection
Describe the 2 categories of acquired pneumonia
- Hospital acquired pneumonia - community or <48h in hospitals
- Community acquired pneumonia - >48h after hospital admission
RFs of pneumonia (5)
- Infants and elderly
- COPD, asthma
- Nursing home residents
- Immunocompromised - long term steroids
- Alcoholics or IVDU
Name 3 bacteria that commonly cause CAP
- Strep. pneumoniae
- Staph. aureus
- Haem. influenzae (mc in COPD)
Name 4 atypical bacteria that cause CAP
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae
- Coxiella burnetti
- Legionella pneumophilia - typical returning from holiday
Why are atypical bacteria difficult to detect
- Intracellular
- Don’t grow on agar easily
- Need serology
What class of Ab are atypical bacteria resistant to and how are they treated
- Not susceptible to Beta lactams/ penicillin’s
- Treat with macrolides (clarithromycin), tetracyclines (doxycycline) or fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin)
Bacterial causes of HAP
- Strep pneumoniae
- MRSA
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Viral causes of pneumonia
- Influenza virus A/B
- respiratory syncytial virus
Fungal cause of pneumonia and how it is treated
Pneumocystis jirovecii
Co-trimoxazole
Who is mc affected by P.jirovicii
Most people who get Pneumocystis pneumonia have a medical condition that weakens their immune system, like HIV/AIDS
Pathophysiology of pneumonia
Invasion of mainly bacteria in lung parenchyma which overwhelms host defences and produces intra-alveolar exudates
* Atypical pneumonia infection outside the alveoli in the interstitium
Give 3 ways pathogens can reach the LRT
- Inhalation
- Aspiration
- Haematogenous spread
Symptoms of pneumonia
- Productive cough: mucopurulent sputum = bacterial, scant/watery = atypical
- Fever, night sweats, rigor
- Pleuritic chest pain and dyspnoea
- Confusion
- Lethargy, malaise
Signs of pneumonia
- Tachycardia and tachypnoea
- Fever
- Dullness to percussion
- Crackles and wheeze
- Decreased breath sounds
- Low blood pressure
Describe the findings of the GS Investigation for pneumonia
CXR
* Consolidation: air bronchogram i.e. air filled bronchi made visible by adjacent fluid filled alveoli
* Multiple abscesses = S.aureus
* Multi-lobar suggest S.pneumoniae, S.aureus or Legionella
* Upper lobe lesions suggest klebsiella (but must exclude TB)
Other investigations for pneumonia (exc CXR)
- Sputum and blood culture - causative organism
- U+E - deranged = severe
- CRP elevated
- FBC - leukocytosis
- Pulse oximetry - assess severity and (if done with ABG) defines RF
Describe the assessment of CAP severity
CURB65 score - 1pt for each
* Confusion - abbreviated mental score <8
* Urea >(=)7 mmol/L
* Respiratory rate >(=) 30/min
* BP; low systolic < 90mm/Hg or diastolic <(=) 60mm/Hg
* Age >(=) 65
Describe the implication of CURB65 score
- 0-1 = mild, at home Tx
- 2 = moderate = admit
- 3-5 = severe, admit and monitor closely (consider ICU)
How is CURB65 adjusted in a community setting
- Urea is not available = CRB65
- 0= mild, 1-2 = moderate and 3-4 = severe
General treatment for pneumonia
- 02 if needed
- Analgesia
- Ab depending on trust and causative pathogen
Management for low risk pneumonia (CRB65 0) in a primary care setting
- Oral amoxicillin
- Clarithromycin or doxycycline
- 5 day course
- treatment at home
Management of intermediate risk (CRB65 1-2) pneumonia in a primary care setting
- Oral amoxicillin + clarithromycin
- 7-10 day course
- hospital assessment should be considered
Management of high risk pneumonia (CRB65 3-4) in a primary care setting
- IV co-amoxiclav + clarithromycin
- Alternative: cefuroxime + clarithromycin
- 7-10 day course
- urgent admission to hospital
When should all cases of pneumonia have a repeat chest X-ray and why?
6 weeks after clinical resolution to ensure consolidation has resolved and to check for any underlying secondary abnormalities (e.g., lung tumour)
What are the discharge criteria for pneumonia
Patients should not be routinely discharged if, in the past 24 hours, they have had 2 or more of the following findings:
- Temperature > 37.5°C
- Respiratory rate ≥ 24 breaths per minute
- Heart rate > 100 beats per minute
- Systolic blood pressure ≤ 90 mmHg
- Oxygen saturation < 90% on room air
- Abnormal mental status
- Inability to eat without assistance
Tx of pseudomonas aeruginosa
IV Ceftazidime or Piperacillin-tazobactam
Tx of suspected or confirmed MRSA
- Vancomycin
- Linezolid
What are 4 non-infectious causes of pneumonia
- Malignancy
- Vasculitis
- Drugs
- Chronic interstitial pneumonia
What is tuberculosis
Infectious granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
* mc involves lungs but can affect almost any organ system
Features of M. TB
- Slow growing
- Waxy mycolic acid capsule - hard to culture and treat
- Non-motile and non-spore forming
RFs of TB
- Exposure to infection
- HIV infection - progresses HIV more rapidly and Tx drugs interact
- Silicosis
- Immunosuppressants
- Endemic country - Asia, Latin America, Africa
- Homeless/ crowded housing
- IVDU
Describe the initial exposure to TB
- TB phagocytosed by macrophages but resist killing and form granulomata
- macrophages and lymphocytes contain and kill majority of infecting bacilli
Describe the pathophysiology of primary TB
- Cell mediated immune response from T cells
- Central region of granuloma undergoes caseating necrosis = Ghon focus
- This is a type 4 hypersensitivity reaction
- Ghon complex is a Ghon focus that spreads to hilar lymph node
- Often ASx
Describe latent TB
- Occurs after primary infection
- Patient remains asymptomatic and bacteria is dormant ( = -ve sputum)
- Infection is contained within granulomas but TB doesn’t die
- Disease can progress/reactivate in immunocompromised Px
Describe miliary TB
This occurs when TB spreads systemically via the lympho-haematogenous spread
Bacteria spread via pulm venous system
Describe secondary infection of TB
- Latent TB reactivates resulting in features of haemoptysis and fever
- Typically occurs in lung apex where pO2 is highest and mycobacteria are aerobic
- Bacteria can spread locally (caseating granulomata) or systemically (miliary TB)
Presentation of TB
- Systemic: weight loss, anorexia, malaise, night sweats, low grade fever
- Dyspnoea, pleuritic chest pain
- Cough
Presentation of extrapulmonary TB
- CNS TB - meningitis
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Genito-urinary TB - haematuria & dysuria
- Bone - joint pain and swelling
- Abdo TB - ascites, ileal malabsorption
Investigation of TB
- Sputum microbiology - Ziehl-Neelsen stain will turn red, +ve acid-fast bacilli
- Lymph node biopsy
- CXR - ghon complex (latent), patch/ nodular consolidations, millet seeds uniformly distributed (miliary), hilar lymphadenopathy
Describe investigation of latent TB
- Mantoux screening (tuberculin skin test) - Won’t distinguish active from passive and -ve doesn’t exclude active
- Interferon-gamma release assay: Measure the response of T cells to TB antigens in order to diagnose prior exposure. More sensitive than Mantoux
- Less sensitive in immunocompromised or miliary TB (false -ve)
Treatment of active TB
ROPE
* Rifampicin - 6m
* Isoniazid - 6m
* Pyrazinamide - first 2m only
* Ethambutol - first 2m
Describe the MOA of rifampicin and SEs
- Inhibition of bacterial RNA polymerase = prevents protein synthesis
- Red/orange urine, hepatitis, Impaired combined oral contraceptive pill function
Why should Pyridoxine be administered with isoniazid
Prevent isoniazid associated peripheral neuropathy
Which vaccine should be taken to prevent TB and when
Neonatal BCG
Causes of pharyngitis
- Viral (80%): rhinovirus, adenovirus and EBV
- Bacterial: Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci
Give 3 other diseases associated with GABHS
- Scarlet fever
- Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis
- Rheumatic fever
Presentation of pharyngitis
- Pyrexia - >38 degrees
- Red, inflamed and enlarged tonsils
- pharyngeal exudate = GABHS
- Fever, headache
- Viral can be distinguished from GABHS by presence of cough and nasal congestion
Tx of pharyngitis
Most are self limiting and Sx last a week
* Phenoxynethylpenicillin 10 days
* Amoxicillin or clarithromycin
Define sinusitis
inflammation of the mucosal lining of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses
Describe causes of sinusitis
- Mostly viral infection -
- Bacterial - Strep. pneumo, H.influenzae
- Duration of Sx for >10 days often indicates bacterial cause
Sx of sinusitis
- Purulent nasal discharge
- Facial pain/ pressure
- Fever and cough
Tx of sinusitis
Usually self limiting
* Amoxicillin if bacterial and not resolving
* Nasal corticosteroids