S9) Lower Respiratory Tract Infections and Pneumonia ❌❌❌❌ Flashcards
Identify 4 common microbial flora of the upper respiratory tract
- Viridans streptococci
- Neisseria sp
- Anaerobes
- Candida sp
Identify 5 less common microbial flora of the upper respiratory tract
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Streptococcus pyogenes
- Haemophillus influenzae
- Other: Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli
Identify three defences of the respiratory tract
- Muco-ciliary clearance mechanisms (nasal hairs, ciliated columnar epithelium)
- Cough & the sneezing reflex
- Mucosal immune system (lymphoid follicles, alveolar macrophages, IgA, IgG)
Identify 5 ways in which the respiratory defences can be compromised
- Poor swallowing (muscle weakness, alcohol)
- Abnormal ciliary function (smoking, viral infection)
- Abnormal mucus (cystic fibrosis)
- Dilated airways (bronchiectasis)
- Defects in host immunity (HIV, Immunosuppression)
Identify 5 common upper respiratory tract infections
- Rhinitis
- Pharyngitis
- Laryngitis
- Sinusitis
- Otitis media
Respiratory tract infections are most commonly caused by viruses.
Identify 5 of these
- Rhinovirus
- Coronavirus
- Influenza
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
When are bacteria common causes for respiratory tract infections?
Bacterial super-infection common with sinusitis and otitis media – can lead to mastoiditis, meningitis, brain abscess
Identify 5 common lower respiratory tract infections
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Empyema
- Lung abscess
- Bronchiectasis
What is acute bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis is the short-term inflammation of medium-sized airways
Identify 5 typical presentations of acute bronchitis
- Cough
- Fever
- Increased sputum production
- Increased shortness of breath
- Normal CXR
Identify 2 causative organisms of acute bronchitis
- S. pneumoniae
- H. influenzae
How is acute bronchitis treated?
- Bronchodilation
- Physiotherapy
- ± Antibiotics
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a condition resulting from the inflammation of the lung parenchyma (alveoli) and the accumulation of fluid in the air spaces
Identify and describe the four different ways of classifying pneumonia?
- By clinical setting (community acquired, hospital acquired)
- By presentation (acute and chronic)
- By organism (bacterial, viral, fungal)
- By lung pathology (lobar, interstitial or bronchopneumonia)
Describe the pathology of pneumonia
- Acute inflammatory response
- Fibrinous exudate
- Neutrophil infiltration
- Macrophage infiltration
Identify the 5 main causative organisms for Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (most common)
- Haemophilus influenzae (common)
- Moraxella catarrhalis
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
Identify 5 symptoms of pneumonia (besides being explictly unwell)
- Fever
- Cough (± sputum)
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea & vomiting
Identify 6 signs of pneumonia seen on examination
- Pyrexia
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnoea
- Cyanosis
- Dullness to percussion (tactile vocal fremitus)
- Crackles