Respiratory Infections Flashcards
What is croup?
AKA laryngotracheobronchitis
This is a type of URTI usually caused by a virus, that causes a ‘barking’ cough, stridor and a hoarse voice. It usually only lasts 1 or 2 days
Name some signs of consolidation
- Increased vocal resonance
- Bronchial breathing
- Crackles on auscultation
- Dull on percussion
- Reduced chest expansion on affected side
How can strep. pneumonia be classified?
GRAM POSITIVE DIPLOCOCCI
What are the main organisms causing typical community-acquired pneumonia?
- Strep. pneumonia
- H. influenzae
- Morazella catarhallis
- Klebsiella
What are the main organisms causing atypical community-acquired pneumonia?
- Mycoplasma (particularly in young)
- Chlamydia
- Legionella
What are the symptoms of typical pneumonia?
Pyrexia, tachycardia, pleuritic pain, severe SOB, painful cough with rusty sputum
What are the symptoms of atypical pneumonia?
Moderate fever, relative bradycardia, no pleurisy, variable consolidation, dry cough
(also may have diarrhoea, erythema multiform, myalgia etc)
What is nosocomial pneumonia and how is it caused?
Hospital-acquired pneumonia (48h after admission), caused by:
- Oropharyngeal colonisation
- Predispositions eg. antacids, antibiotics, biofilms
- Ventilator associated e.g. pseudomonas aeruginosa, S.aureus
How can pneumonia be diagnosed clinically?
- Cough, fever and at least 1 other LRTI symptom
- New focal signs on chest exam (or radiographic features if CXR available)
- No other explanation for illness
How is the severity of CAP assessed using a specific tool?
CURB65
C - new onset confusion (AMTS score less than 8/10)
U - urea > 7mmol/l
R - respiratory rate > 29/min
B - diastolic blood pressure <60mmHg or SBP<90mmHG
Aged over 65
ALSO, hypoxaemia (<90%02), involvement of 2 or more lobes, and pre existing disease
How is CAP treated? (CURB65 3-5)
Amoxicillin (covers pneumococcus) and clarithromycin (covers atypical pathogens)
If staphylococcus is suspected, add flucloxacillin
How is severe CAP with sepsis treated ?
Pip/tazo - tazo is a beta lactamase inhibitor so allows a dual action
Under new guidelines:
Co-amoxiclav IV
Clarithromycin IV
How is HAP treated?
Pip/tazo
What are the symptoms of bronchitis?
Cough & other upper airway symptoms
NB - no consolidation on CXR
Is bronchitis usually viral or bacterial?
Viral - seldom needs hospital admission
What is the difference between bronchitis and bronchiectasis?
Bronchiectasis is a CHRONIC condition, due to repeated lung infections, causing irreversible WIDENING of the bronchi.
Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi, causing NARROWING.
Which diseases are associated with bronchiectasis?
Cystic fibrosis Youngs syndrome Pneumonia Immunodeficiency Rheumatological diseases IBD Bronchial obstruction and infection - TB
What are the symptoms of a lung abscess?
Weight loss, fever, non-specific
Clubbing
Commonly presents after pneumonia
Looks like an egg-shaped mixture of pus and gas on CXR
How is a lung abscess treated?
DRAIN FIRST
Then 8 weeks or more broad-spectrum abx
What is an empyema?
Pus in the pleural space that needs draining