RTIs (Pt 2) Flashcards
What age groups are most affected by fatal lower respiratory tract infections ?
- Elderly in developed countries
- Children under five in developing countries
Pneumonia:
- Define
- Transmission
PNEUMONIA
- Definition: Inflammation of the substance of the lungs
- Transmission: Access to LRT by inhalation of aerosolised (e.g. sneezing, cough) microbes or by aspiration of normal flora of the URT
What is the most common cause of infection-related death in UK and USA ?
Pneumonia
Describe the aetiology of pneumonia depending on age.
CHILDREN
• Mainly viral
• Neonates may develop pneumonia caused by Chlamydia trachomatis acquired from mother during birth
ADULTS
• Mainly bacterial
• Aetiology varies with age, underlying disease, occupational and geographic risk factors
Identify the main pathogens in viral pneumonia.
Rhinoviruses
Coronaviruses
Influenza virus
Measles virus
Identify the main pathogens in bacterial pneumonia.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Haemophilus influenzae
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Define atypical pneumonia. What organisms can cause atypical pneumonia ?
Pneumonia which fails to respond to treatment with penicillin (i.e. “not caused by one of the pathogens most commonly associated with the disease”)
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Legionella pneumophilia
- Chlamydia psittaci
- Chlamydia pneumoniae
Identify the main anatomical classifications of pneumonia.
- Lobar pneumonia
- Bronchopneumonia
- Interstitial pneumonia
- Necrotising pneumonia
Define lobar pneumonia.
Pneumonia involving a distinct region of the lung ie. lobe.
Define bronchopneumonia.
Diffuse, patchy consolidation, associated with bronchi and bronchioles.
Define interstitial pneumonia.
Invasion of lung interstitium, usually characteristic of viral infection.
Define necrotising pneumonia.
Lung abscesses and destruction of parenchyma
Identify the main clinical features of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia.
1) Initially:
- Abrupt onset
- Rigors
- Fever
- Malaise
- Tachycardia
- Dry cough
2) Followed by:
- Productive cough with rusty sputum
- Spiky temperature
- Lobular consolidation
Identify the main clinical features of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Dyspnoea
- Lymphadenopathy
Identify the main clinical features of Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia.
- Mainly occurs in children
- Consolidation or patchy bronchopneumonia
- Persistent purulent sputum and malaise
Identify the main clinical features of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia.
=Legionnaire’s disease (form of atypical pneumonia), i.e. severe systemic infection with pneumonia
- Tachypnoea
- Purulent sputum
- Consolidation
Legionella pneumophila:
- What type of bacteria ?
- What is its mechanism of action ?
- How is transmitted ?
- Special features ?
- Type of bacteria: Gram negative bacillus
- Mechanism of action: Secretes protease causing lung damage
- Transmission: transmitted by aerosol, but not person-person
- Special feature: usually occurs as outbreaks
Describe the laboratory diagnosis of Legionnaire’s Disease.
Detection of antigen in urine (4-fold rise in antibody)
What are the main clinical features of Measles ?
- Fever
- Characteristic rash
- Runny nose
- Koplik’s spots
What are possible complications of measles ?
→ Neurological complications
→ “Giant cell” (Hecht’s) pneumonia in the immunocompromised – usually fatal
Do people usually die from measles ?
In developing countries, yes.
MEASLES virus:
- Class of virus
- Transmission
- Where does it replicate ?
- Incubation period
- Is infection localised or sytemic ?
- Class of virus: Paramyxovirus
- Transmission: via aerosol
- Where it replicates: Replicates in LRT
- Incubation period: 10-14 days
- Multisystem infection
Describe diagnosis of measles.
- Clinical mainly
- Serology for measles-specific IgM (easiest way)
- Virus isolation
- Viral RNA detection