Respiratory Flashcards
What are the main URTI syndromes?
- Common cold (rhinitus, sinusitis)
- Sore throat ( pharyngitis, tonisllitis)
- Influenza
Main features of viral URTIs?
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Otalgia
- Blocked nose and rhinorrhoea
- Mild fever
Main viral causative organisms of common cold?
- Rhinoviruses
- Corona viruses (!)
- Other: Coxsackie viruses, echoviruses, parainfluenza, RSV, influenza C
Main viral causative organisms of pharyngitis/tonsillitis?
- Adenoviruses
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Other: Influ A,B,C, parainfluenza virus
Main viral causative organisms of influenza?
- Influenza A and B
What are the main syndromes of LRTIs?
- Croup - laryngotracheobronchitis
- Acute bronchitis
- Chronic bronchitis
- Bronchiolitis
- Pneumonia
Main viral causative organisms of Croup?
- Parainfluenza virus
- Other: Influ A and B, RSV, Coxsackie
Main viral causative organisms of Acute bronchitis?
- Adenoviruses
- Other: RSV, rhinoviruses, measles virus, influ a and b
Main viral causative organisms of chronic bronchitis?
- RSV
- Rhinoviruses
- Parainfluenza viruses
Main viral causative organisms of bronchiolitis?
- RSV
- Adenoviruses
- Other: Parainfluenza
Main viral causative organisms of pneumonia?
- Adenoviruses
- Influ A and B
- Measles virus
- VZV
- CMV
What is flu?
- An acute respiratory illness caused by infection with influenza viruses
Different types of influenza virus?
A - Affects all sorts of animals. Causes severe and extensive outbreaks and pandemics.
B - Causes sporadic, less severe, outbreaks. Eg care homes, garrisons
C - Relatively minor disease
Symptoms of flu?
- Upper and/or lower resp tract symptoms
- Fever
- Headache
- Myalgia
- Weakness
- Risk of 2ndary bacterial pneumonia
What is pneumonia?
- Inflammation of the lung parenchyma
Causes of pneumonia?
- bacterial pneumonia (common)
- viral
- fungal
Main bacteria causing pneumonia?
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Legionella pneumophilia
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Pneumocystis jiroveci
Features of pneumococcal pneumonia?
- 80% of cases
- Ass w/ : High fever, rapid onset, pleuritic chest pain, herpes labialis
- Vaccine available
Who does haemophilus influenzae commonly affect?
- Pt with COPD
When does S. Aureus pneumonia commonly occur?
- Often occurs in patients following influenza infection
What are the features of mycoplasma pneumonia?
- One of the atypical pneumonias
- Often presents with a dry cough and atypical chest signs/XR findings
- Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and erythema multiforme may be seen
Features of legionella pnia?
- Atypical
- Hyponatraemia and lymphopenia common
Who often gets klebseilla pneumonia?
Alcoholics
What are the features of pneumocystis pneumonia?
- Typically seen in HIV patients
- P/w: Dry cough, exerise-induced desaturations, absence of chest signs
What is idiopathic interstitial pneumonia?
- Group of non-infective causes of pneumonia
Which groups are at risk of pneumonia?
- Infants and the elderly
- COPD and other chronic lung disease (CF, bronchiectasis)
- Immunocompromised
- Nursing home residents
- Impaired swallow
- Diabetes
- Congestive heart disease
- Lifestyle: smokers, alcoholics, drug users
- Iatrogenic - eg long term steroids
Symptoms of pneumonia?
- Cough
- Sputum
- Dyspnoea
- Chest pain - may be pleuritic
- Fever
What are the signs of pneumonia?
- Signs of systemic inflam response: Fever, tachycardia
- Reduced O2 sats
- On exam:
- Reduced breath sounds
- Bronchial breathing
- Crackles/ consolidation
- +/- wheeze
- Dull to percussion
- decreased air entry
Pneumonia investigations?
- CXR: Shows consolidation
- Bloods:
- FBC - neutrophilia in bacterial infections
- U&E
- CRP
- ABG
- Blood and sputum cultures
- CRP monitoring for admitted pts
Management principles for pneumonia?
- Antibiotics
- Supportive care: O2, IV fluids
What is risk tool for pneumonia?
What is it made up of?
CURB-65 Confusion (AMT<8/10) Urea >7 Resp rate >30 Blood pressure <90 sys and/or <60dia >65
0 low risk
1-2 intermediate
3-4 high risk
Other markers of severe pneumonia?
- CXR – more than one lobe involved
- PaO2 <8 kPa
- Low albumin
- White cell count <4x10^9 or >20x10^9
- Blood culture positive
Treatment of low-severity CAP ?
- Amoxicillin first line
- If allergic give - macrolide (azith, clarith, erith) or tetracycline
- 5days course
Moderate severity CAP tx?
- Dual abx therapy with amoxicillin and a macrolide
- 7-10day course
High severity CAP tx?
- Consider Co-Amoxiclav and a macrolide
Indications for pneumocooccal vaccine?
- > 65 years
- Splenic dysfunction
- Immunocompromised
- Chronic medical condition
- Protects against invasive pneumococcal disease but not pneumonia
Most common infecting organisms in HAP?
- Gram negative enterobacteria
- Staph Aureus
- Also: Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Bacterioles, Clostridia
How is HAP managed?
- Aminoglycoside antibiotic (eg. gentamycin, neomycin)
- + Antipseudomonal penicillin IV or 3rd gen cephalosporin
What is aspiration pneumonia?
- Pneumonia that develops as a result of foreign materials gaining entry to the bronchial tree
- Usually oral or gastric contents such as food and saliva
- Depending on the acidity of the aspirate, a chemical pneumonitis can develop, as well as bacterial pathogens adding to the inflammation
Causes of aspiration pneumonia?
Impaired swallow: - Neuro disease: MND, MG, bulbar palsy, huntingtons - Stroke - MS - Intoxication - Oesophageal disease: Achalasia, reflux Iatrogenic cause: - Intubation
Risk factors for asp pnia?
- Poor dental hygeine
- Swallowing difficulties
- Prolonged hospitalization or surgical procedures
- Impaired consciousnes
- Impaired mucociliary clearance
Bacteria often found in aspiration pneumonia?
- S Pneumonia
- S Aureus
- Haem Influenzae
- Pseudomonas aerugionsa
Treatment of aspiration pneumonia?
- IV cephalosporin
- + IV metronidazole
What is bronchitis?
- Inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes
- Typically causes bronchospasm and coughing
Cause of bronchitis?
- Usually viral
- can be bacterial: H. Influenzae, S. Pneumoniae
How does bronchitis present?
- Cough can be productive or non-productive
- SOB and often wheeze
- May be fever but no systemic signs of infection
- Wheeze but no signs of focal consolidation
- May cause acute exacerbations of COPD or asthma
Management of bronchitis?
- Usually none especially if viral
- Amoxicillin, doxycycline or clarithromycin- options if ill or chronic lung disease and purulent sputum
- Augmentin (smokers or COPD but not initial NICE recommendations for COPD)
- Manage exacerbation of COPD/asthma with steroids and increased inhalers
What is COPD?
- Airflow obstruction > FEV1/FVC ratio of <0.7
- Due to combination of:
1) Airway damage (bronchitis)
2) Parenchymal damage (emphysema) - Damage is a result of chronic inflammation
Causes of COPD?
- Smoking
- Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
- Air pollution/exposure to pollutants at work eg: Coal, cadmium, cotton, cement, grain
Why does alpha-1-antitrypsin defiency cause COPD?
- A1AT is a protease inhibitor
- Proteases are involved in structural changes and breakdown of lung tissue that results in emphysema
- A1AT is also inactivated by cigarette smoke - so smoking causes a similar effect to the deficiency
2 phenotypes of COPD?
- Blue bloaters
- Pink puffers
Most will be combination of both
What are blue bloaters?
- Predominantly chronic bronchitis (airway inflammation)
- Hypoventilation and cyanosis
- Cough
- Phlegm
- Cor pulmonale
- Resp failure
What are pink puffers?
- Predominantly emphysema
- Weight loss
- Breathlessness
- Maintained pO2
Main presentation of COPD?
- Cough: productive (clear/white thick sputum)
- Dyspnoea
- Wheeze
Smoker
Elderly
Clinical signs of COPD?
- Cyanosis
- Signs of CO2 retention - flap, confusion
- Barrel shaped, hyperinflated chest
- Raised JVP, ankle swelling, cor pulmonale
- Reduced chest expansion and air entry
What is Cor Pulmonale?
increased resistance in the blood vessels in the right side of the heart due to pulmonary hypertension/increased pulmonary resistance – causing symptoms of RHF
Investigations for ?COPD
- Post bronchodilator spirometry to show FEV1/FVC below 0.7
- CXR: Hyperinflation, bullae, flat hemidiaphragm
- FBC
- BMI
Management of COPD?
General: - Smoking cessation - Annual influenza vaccine - One off pneumococcal vaccine Bronchodilator therapy - SABA or SAMA - 1st line - Next step up is ?steroids
What features suggest COPD steroid responsiveness?
- Hx of asthma
- History of atopy
- Raised eosniphils
Treatment offered if they have steroid responsive features?
- ICS + LABA
- If still breathless: triple therapy of ICS+LABA+LAMA
Treatment offered if they DONT have steroid responsive features?
- LABA and LAMA
Features and management of cor pulmonale?
Features: - Peripheral oedema - Raised JVP - systolic parasternal haeve - Loud P2 Management: - Use a loop diuretic for oedema - Consider LTOT
What can improve survival in stable COPD pts?
- Smoking cessation
- LTOT
- Lung volume reduction surgery
Who should be assessed for LTOT?
- Very severe airflow obstruction (FEV1 < 30% predicted
- Cyanosis
- Polycythaemia
- Peripheral oedema
- Raised jugular venous pressure (sign of cor pulmonale)
- Oxygen saturations <92 OA
How to assess for LTOT?
Measuring 2 ABGs on 2 occasions
At least 3 weeks apart
In patients with stable COPD on optimal management
Target O2 sats for COPD pt on oxygen therapy?
88-92%
Features of acute exacerbation of COPD?
- Increase in sx above and beyond normal day to day variation for 2 days
- Moderate needs tx
- Severe needs admission
- Associated with poor QoL and poor prognosis
Common infective organisms of AEofCOPD?
- haemophilus influenzae
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Moraxella catarrhalis
Management of AEofCOPD?
- Increase freq of bronchodilator use - consider nebs
- Give prednisolone 30mg daily for 7-14 days
- Oral abx only if clinical signs of pneumonia or purulent sputum
What is asthma?
A chronic inflammatory condition of the airways secondary to hypersensitivity
The symptoms are variable and recurring and manifest as reversible bronchospasm resulting in airway obstruction
3 pathological characteristic features of asthma?
- Airflow limitation
- Airway hyper-responsiveness to a range of stimuli
- Inflammation of the bronchi
Risk factors/causes of asthma?
- Persona/Fhx of atopy
- Antenatal: Maternal smoking and Viral infection during pregnancy
- Low birth weight
- Not being breastfed
- Maternal smoking around child
- Exposure to high conc of allergens (house dust mite etc)
- Air pollution
- Hygeine hypothesis - reduced exposure to infectious agents
What medication may patients with asthma be sensitive to?
Aspirin
2 phenotypes of asthma?
1) Eosinophillic:
- Non atopic
- Atopic - fungal allergy, pets, occupation, common aeroallergens
2) Non-eosinophillic
- Non smoking
- Smoking associated
- obesity related
What monoclonal antibody can be used to treat eosinophillic asthma?
- Anti-IgE > Omalizumab
Presentation of asthma?
- Cough - often worse at night or in morning
- Dyspnoea
- Wheeze
- Chest tightness
What triggers asthma symptoms?
- Allergens
- Infections
- Menstrual cycle
- Exercise
- Cold air
- Laughter/other emotions eg. stress, anger
Signs of asthma?
- Expiratory wheeze on auscultation
- Reduced peak expiratory flow rate
RCP3 questions for assessing asthma severity?
- Recent waking in the night?
- Usual asthma symptoms in the day?
- Interference with ADLs?
Investigations for asthma?
Spirometry:
- FEV1
- FVC
- FEV1 significantly reduced, FVC normal, ratio <70%
- Bronchodilator reversibility test >12%
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)
CXR - rule out lung Ca in elderly/smokers
Step up management steps for asthma?
1) SABA
2) Not controlled on previous step OR newly-diagnosed with symptoms ≥ 3x week or night time waking – SABA and low-dose ICS
3) SABA + low-dose ICS + leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA)
4) SABA + low-dose ICS + LABA (+/- LTRA depending on response)
5) SABA +/- LTRA. Switch ICS/LABA for low dose ICS MART
6) SABA +/- LTRA + medium dose ICS MART, or consider changing back to a fixed-dose ICS and separate LABA
7) SABA +/- LTRA + one of the following:
- Increase ICS to high-dose only, as fixed regime not part of MART
- A trial of additional drug – e.g. LAMA or theophylline
- Seek advice from healthcare professional with expertise in asthma
What is maintenance and reliever therapy (MART)?
A form of combined ICS and LABA treatment
In which a single inhaler, containing both ICS and a fast-acting LABA, is used for both daily maintenance therapy and the relief of symptoms as required
Classifying acute asthma attack: MODERATE
- PEFR 50-75% best/predicted
- Speech normal
- RR <25/min
- Pulse <110bpm
Classifying acute asthma attack: SEVERE
- PEFR 33-50% best or predicted
- Cant complete sentences
- RR > 25/min
- Pulse >110bpm
Classifying acute asthma attack: LIFE-THREATENING
- PEFR <33% best or predicted
- Oxygen sats <92%
- Silent chest, cyanosis, or feeble resp effort
- Bradycardia, dysrhythmia or hypotension
- Exhaustion, confusion or coma
Escalatory steps to managing acute SEVERE asthma attack?
1) Oxygen
2) Salbutamol nebulisers
3) Ipratropium bromide nebulisers
4) Hydrocortisone IV OR Oral Prednisolone
5) Magnesium Sulphate IV
6) Aminophylline/IV salbutamol
Manageing mild-moderate asthma attack?
Beta 2 agonist via spacer (for a child < 3 years use close fitting mask)
1 puff every 30-60 seconds up to a maximum of 10 puffs
If symptoms are not controlled, repeat and refer to hospital
Give steroid for 3-5days.
What is bronchiectasis?
Permanent dilatation of the airways, secondary to chronic infection of inflammation
Causes of bronchiectasis?
- Post infective - TB, measles, pertussis, pneumonia
- Cystic fibrosis
- Bronchial obstruction - lung cancer, foreign body
- Immune deficiency - selective IgA, hypogammaglobulinaemia
- Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
- Ciliary dyskinetic syndromes (Kartageners, Youngs)
- Yellow nail syndrome ( Pleural effusion+Lymphoedema+Yellow nails)
- Post radiotherapy
- CTD
- IBD
- Post-transplant
What are features of Kartageners syndrome?
Aka Primary ciliary dyskinesia
Pathogenesis - dynein arm defect results in immotile cilia
Features:
- Dextrocardia or complete situs inversus
- Bronchiectais
- Recurrent sinusitis
- Subfertility (decreased sperm motility and defective ciliary action in fallopian tubes)
How does bronchiectasis come about?
- Microbial insult + defect in host response
- Leads to resp tract infection > bronchial inflammation > resp tract damage
- Leads to progressive lung disease
- Failure of mucociliary clearance and immune function
- Bronchitis > Bronchiectasis > Fibrosis
Most common infecting orgaisms isolated from bronchiectasis pts?
- Haem influenza (most common)
- Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
- Klebsiella spp.
- Streptococcus pneumonia
- Also: Moraxella cattarhalis, S. Aureus
Symptoms of bronchiectasis?
- Cough: Copious sputum, foul smelling, green/yellow, can be non-productive in 5%
- Recurrrent exacerbations w/ long recov time
- weight loss
- Dyspnoea
- Deterioration in control of prev stable lung condition
- Haemoptysis
- Chest pain