Hospital Acquired Pneumonia, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Hospital Acquired Pneumonia, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Pneumonia is the infection of the lungs that is produced by many different germs.

Pneumonia can be acquired in the community (community acquired pneumonia) and while hospitalized (hospital acquired pneumonia).

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the most frequent infectious diseases and is an important cause of disease and death worldwide such as the coronavirus pandemic occurring in 2020.

Numerous other micro-organisms can produce CAP in the proper medical situation.

Epidemiologic data may provide indications to the specific organism causing CAP such as:

1. The most frequent bacterial pathogen generally is S pneumoniae, even though, in some situations, including in the USA, its incidence is reducing, possibly due to vaccination.

2. Underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD: H influenzae or M catarrhalis

3. Recent influenza infection: Staphylococcus aureus or S pneumoniae

4. Alcoholic patient manifesting with "currant jelly" sputum: Klebsiella pneumoniae

Also, the atypical CAP pathogens are really frequent sources of CAP and were initially classified as atypical since they are not easily detectable on Gram stain or cultivated on bacteriologic media.

CAP is normally obtained by inhalation or aspiration of a pathogenic organism.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is an infection of the lungs that happens while the patient is in the hospital.

This form of pneumonia can be very serious.

Occasionally, it can be lethal.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia happens 48 hours or more after admission to the hospital.

The lungs become inflamed and swollen and cannot function well.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia is normally produced by bacteria.

It can be life-threatening especially in older patients.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia is likely to be more serious than other lung infections because:

1. Patients in the hospital are often very sick and cannot fight off germs.

2. The types of germs present in a hospital are often more lethal and more resistant to treatment than those outside in the community.

3. Pneumonia happens more often in people using a ventilator which is a machine that helps them breathe.

4. Hospital-acquired pneumonia can also be spread by hospital workers who can pass germs from their hands, clothes, or instruments from one person to another.

This is why hand-washing, wearing gowns and making use of other safety measures is so important in the hospital.

Patients tend more likely to get pneumonia while in the hospital if they:

1. Abuse alcohol
2. Have had chest surgery or other major surgical procedure
3. Have a weak immune system from cancer treatment, certain medicines, or severe wounds
4. Have long-term (chronic) lung disease
5. Inhale saliva or food into their lungs (aspiration pneumonia) as a result of not being fully alert or having swallowing disorders (e.g., after a stroke)
6. Are not mentally alert due to medicines or illness
7. Are older with weakened muscles
8. Are placed on a breathing machine (ventilator)

With hospital-acquired pneumonia, the inflamed air sacs can fill up with fluid or pus, producing all the coughing and phlegm.

A number of micro-organisms, most often bacteria, viruses, and fungi, enter the body system, normally through the air inhaled.

A strong immune system is necessary for resisting the infection, mostly for seniors and others at higher risk.

The patient may not inhale enough oxygen if the lungs are inflamed or filled with fluid.

Low oxygen can produce injury to other body organs, such as the kidneys, heart, and brain.

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