Pneumonia is an acute infection of the lungs, it can be caused by a variety of organisms entering the body – including bacteria, viruses or fungi. The infection causes an inflammation of the alveoli (air sacs) of the lungs and may result in the alveoli filling with fluid or other purulent material (Mayo Clinic, 2016). An accumulation of fluid within alveoli and portions of the lungs, can reduce the ability of the lungs to allow for oxygen diffusion across the alveoli walls. If oxygen saturation is low, it can cause the body’s cells to not work effectively. Therefore, the risk of the infection spreading through the body is increased – it is due to this reason, that pneumonia can be life-threatening (American Lung Foundation, 2016). Pneumonia …show more content…
Pneumonia is classified according to the organism causing the infection and where the infection was acquired. Community-acquired pneumonia is contracted by individuals with minimal contact with health care facilities – such as a hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation facility – and contract the infection by people in the wider community (MedlinePlus, 2016). Hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator assisted pneumonia, can be caused by a wide variety of bacteria and other organisms that can originate from the health care environment (Oxford Journals, 2016). Pneumonia that develops whilst an individual is in hospital, can be extremely severe and is more likely to be fatal. This is due to the fact, that individuals within a health care setting, often already have a serious illness, causing a weakened immune system. Also, the types of bacteria present in hospitals, are often more dangerous and resistant to treatment – then the bacteria found in the outside community (MedlinePlus, 2016). Aspiration pneumonia – or anaerobic pneumonia - results after the inhalation of a foreign matter into the lungs. If foods, liquids, saliva, or vomit make their way into the airways or lungs, instead of the oesophagus and stomach, it can cause aspiration pneumonia. It is more likely in individuals with a disturbed gag reflex – commonly due to having a brain injury or being under the influence of drugs or anaesthetics (MedlinePlus,
This paper explores Pneumonia and the respiratory disease process associated with bacterial and viral pathogens most commonly located in the lung. The paper examines the process, symptoms and treatments most commonly viewed in patient cases of Pneumonia. My goal is to educate the reader and to warn of the
Ventilator - associated pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common hospital acquired infection (HAI) and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates for ventilated patients in intensive care units (Bingham, Ashley, Jong, & Swift, 2010). The VAP increases patients’ mortality rates, length of stay and hospital costs (Hiner, Kasuya, Cottingham, & Whitney, 2010). The VAP is the leading causes of death due to nosocomial infections and the
Pneumonia is a disease that affects the respiratory system. Specifically, it is an inflammation of the lungs that can be caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and parasites. Microscopic sacs in the lungs (Alveoli) become inflamed and fill up with fluid, which causes symptoms such as cough, fever, chills and trouble breathing. It is a lung disease that kills thousands every year and hospitalizes many more. Pneumonia is more serious and can be deadly for infants and elderly. This disease has personally affected me when my son was hospitalized with it for 5 days. He was only 10 months old at the time and was admitted with diagnosis of Pneumonia, low oxygen and dehydration.
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common infection that patients develop while in the hospital and the leading cause of death due to hospital acquired infections (Augustyn, 2007). Hospital acquired infections are also known as nosocomial infections. VAP usually happens when patients are on mechanical ventilation (the ventilator) for over 48 hours. VAP is costly because it increases the hospital length of stay, often times in the Intensive Care Units (ICU). Patients are often on the ventilator and are receiving antibiotics to treat the pneumonia. This paper will show that
The client’s secondary diagnosis is community-acquired pneumonia. Typically, immune defense mechanisms, such as the secretion of alveolar macrophages and immunoglobulins A and G, protect the lower airway from infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia, invades the lungs. The organism triggers an inflammatory response, resulting in increased blood flow and vascular permeability. Neutrophil activation occurs, to surround the kill the invading organism. A combination of the offending organism, neutrophils and fluid from the surrounding blood vessels flood the alveoli, inhibiting normal oxygen transportation. This filling of the alveoli may lead to tachypnea, tachycardia and dyspnea. Further obstruction of airflow and an increased impairment of gas exchange occur as mucous production increases. When
Pneumonia is a serious infection of the lungs. This is when the air sacs in the lungs become inflamed and fill with pus and other liquid, which make it difficult for oxygen to reach the blood through them. If there is too little oxygen in the blood, then the body’s cells cannot work properly. Pneumonia can cause lack of oxygen and the spread of infection through the body, which may lead to death. An annual flu shot can provide protection against Pneumonia since it is similar to
Ventilator-associated pneumonia is defined as pneumonia occurring more than 48 hours after patients have been intubated and received mechanical ventilation. Diagnosing VAP requires a high clinical suspicion combined with bedside-examination, radiographic-examination, and microbiologic analysis of respiratory secretions. Aggressive surveillance is vital in under-standing local factors leading to VAP and the microbiologic milieu of a given unit. Judicious antibiotic usage is essential, as resistant organisms continue to plague intensive care units and critically ill patients. Simple nursing and respiratory therapy interventions for prevention should be adopted. (para.2)
NECROTIZING PNEUMONIA: Aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia is frequently called necrotizing pneumonia because of the pathologic changes in the lungs. It usually follows aspiration of material in the mouth into the trachea and subsequently the lungs. The aspirated material. Either food, water, or vomitus, is the triggering mechanism for the pathology of this type of pneumonia. If the aspirated material is an inert substance (e.g. barium or nonacid stomach contents), the initial manifestation is usually caused by obstruction of airways. When the aspirated materials contain gastric acid, there is chemical injury to the lung parenchyma with infection as a secondary event usually 48 to 72 hours later. The infecting organism is usually one of the normal oropharyngeal flora. The clinical manifestations proceed as those of a classic pneunococcal or streptococcal pneumonia. Fungi may also be a cause of pneumonia. These infections are not transmitted from person to person, and the patient does not have to be placed in isolation. The clinical manifestations are similar to those of bacterial pneumonia. Skin and serology tests are available to assist in identifying the infecting organism.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium pathogen that needs a host in order to survive, which are usually humans (Donkor, 2013). The bacteria is the cause of diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, and corneal ulcers. Some of the diseases S. pneumoniae causes are extremely harmful to humans and can even cause death in some cases (Mathos, Ferri, Figueiredo, Zangirolami, & Gonçalves, 2015). Humans, who already have a S. pneumoniae disease or have the bacteria simply in the upper part of the pharynx, transfers the bacteria through air particles, known as aerosols (Donkor, 2013; Lawrence, S. L. et al., 2015). In well populated areas or places, like schools, colleges, workplaces, S. pneumoniae is able to infect many humans
Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is and has been a major health problem here in the U.S. This disease mostly affects young children and the elderly 65. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacteria causing pneumonia, this bacterium has over 90 different stereotypes and is extremely hard to pin point the different mutating strains. Pneumonia is contracted from inhalation of droplets; any one coughing or sneezing around your area and carrying the virus can pass it along to you fairly easy. Pneumonia is an upper respiratory infection that causes the lungs to be inflamed and fill the alveoli (air sacs) with fluids causing lack of oxygen to the red blood cells. The most common test for S. pneumoniae is the optichin sensitivity with an optichin
Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HAP) is a common complication of being hospitalized, especially in the elderly. On average, HAP increases the length of stay (LOS) to seven to nine days, adds $40,000 to $65,000 in cost of care, and is a big contributor to morbidity and mortality risks (Quinn, et al., 2014). The World Health Organization reports that 1.4 million people die annually related to pneumonia infections (Driver, 2012). A comparison of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and HAP indicates that it is more likely to contract a multi-drug resistant pathogen to HAP than it is to CAP (Pássaro, Harbarth, & Landelle, 2016 ). To ensure adequate patient care and to significantly decrease risks of infections, specifically HAP, it is essential for proper nursing care to be implemented to clients.
pneumoniae and there chemotactic signals and the host cell’s alternate pathway, invade the alveoli. Also red blood cells are recruited to this site. In the third stage, mostly neutrophils are packed into the alveoli and very few bacteria remain. In the final stage, macrophages eliminate the remaining residue from the inflammatory response. As one can see, the damage which is done to the lung is largely a result of the host’s inflammatory response, which causes the build up of fluids in the lungs. If S. pneumoniae is allowed to persist in the lungs it can then invade the blood, which causes bacteremia. When in the blood it can traverse the blood-brain barrier and infect the meninges, which results in meningitis. S. pneumoniae is also associated with diseases in other parts of the respiratory tract including the paranasal sinuses, which is better known as sinusitis, and the middle ear can become infected, which is known as otitis media. It has also been known to cause peritonitis, an inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal wall, and it is also implicated in causing arthritis.
There are four different classifications of pneumonia including community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, healthcare associated pneumonia, and ventilator-associated event which were previously referred to as ventilator-associated pneumonia (HESS). Bacteria, fungus, and viruses are some of the major causes of any type of pneumonia. Specifically, pneumococcus and Haemophilus, influenza are common pneumonia-causing bacteria. In children, these bacteria are the most present. Streptococcus pneumonia These microorganisms are capable of causing pneumonia, which is defined as inflamed air sacs in the lungs capable of developing fluid.
The clinical manifestations of pneumonia will be different according to the causative organism and the patient’s underlying conditions and/or comorbidities (Smeltzer, et al). Some of the manifestations are
Pneumonia is an inflammation or infection of the lungs most commonly caused by a bacteria or virus. Pneumonia can also be caused by inhaling vomit or other foreign substances. In all cases, the lungs' air sacs fill with pus , mucous, and other liquids and cannot function properly. This means oxygen cannot reach the blood and the cells of the body.