Respiratory: Pneumonia Flashcards
What is pneumonia?
1) Inflammatory condition of the lungs caused by infection
2) This leads to fluid and blood cells leaking into the alveoli
3) The infection spreads across the alveoli and eventually the lung tissue becomes consolidated, impairing the gas exchange due to reduced ventilation
What is the most common cause of (community-acquired) pneumonia?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
What are the three most common causes of (community-acquired) pneumonia?
1) Streptococcus pneumoniae
2) Haemophilus influenzae
3) Mycoplasma pneumoniae
What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
1) Fever
2) Malaise
3) Rigors
4) Cough
5) Purulent sputum
6) Pleuritic chest pain
7) Haemoptysis
What are the signs of pneumonia?
1) Tachypnoea
2) Tachycardia
3) Hypotension
4) Cyanosis
5) Pyrexia
6) Pleural rub
What would you find on respiratory examination in pneuomonia?
1) Dull percussion
2) Increased vocal resonance/tactile vocal fremitus
3) Bronchial breathing
4) Pleural rub
What is bronchial breathing?
1) Higher pitch, inspiration and expiration are equal
2) There is an audible pause between inspiration and expiration
What is pleural rub?
1) Audible sound heard in patients with pleurisy
2) Caused by the layers of pleura rubbing against each other
What is the definition of hospital-acquired pneumonia?
LRTI that develops > 48h after hospital admission
What are the three most common causes of hospital-acquired pneumonia?
1) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
2) Staph aureus (gram positive cocci found in clusters)
3) Enterobacteria (gram negative) - e.g. Klebsiella, enterobacter, E coli
What causes aspiration pneumonia?
An unsafe swallow
What are risk factors for aspiration pneumonia?
1) Stroke
2) Myasthenia gravis
3) Bulbar palsy
4) Alcoholism
5) Achalasia
Which lung is more commonly affected by aspiration pneumonia and why?
Right lung - right bronchus is wider and more vertical than the left bronchus, making it more likely to facilitate the passage of aspirate
What type of pneumonia does staph aureus cause?
Bilateral cavitating pneumonia (hospital acquired)
Which patients are more susceptible to staphylococcal pneumonia?
1) IV drug users
2) Elderly
3) Patients with influenza infection
What type of bacterial pneumonia can develop on top of influenza infection?
Staphylococcal (staph aureus)
What type of pneumonia does Klebsiella cause?
Cavitating pneumonia primarily affecting the upper lobes
What is the key presenting symptom in Klebsiella pneumonia?
Redcurrant sputum
Which type of pathogen causes redcurrant sputum in pneumonia?
Klebsiella
What type of bacteria is Klebsiella?
Gram-negative anaerobic rod (bacillus)
Which complications are patients with Klebsiella pneumonia at higher risk of developing?
1) Empyema
2) Lung abscesses
3) Pleural adhesions
Which patients are at risk of Klebsiella pneumonia?
Those with weakened immune systems:
1) Elderly
2) Alcoholics
3) Diabetics
AND
4) Patients with malignancy
5) COPD
6) Long term steroid use
7) Renal failure