Pneumoccal Disease Research Paper

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

P. aeruginosa is a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium that thrives in moist environmental reservoirs such as in the soil, water and plants8, 9. P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen that infects immunocompromised individuals, lending to its association with life-threatening illnesses10. In addition to pulmonary infections in CF patients, P. aeruginosa is frequently found in nosocomial infections11. As such, P. aeruginosa is recognized for its medical importance in clinical infections.

Meningococcal disease is a disease that can be found worldwide. Meningococcal disease refers to any disease or illness that is caused by the type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitides, also called meningococcus (Meningococcal disease, 2015). The first documented outbreak was over two hundred years ago in Geneva in 1805 which circulated rapidly and killed thirty three people. The first case ever recorded in America was in 1806 in Medford, Massachusetts (Fredericks, n.d.). A European physician, Professor A Weichselbaum, discovered the cause of the mysterious cerebro-spinal meningitis illness in 1887 and Penicillin was the first antibiotic used to fight the disease. In 1978 the first

Streptococcus Pyogenes is a very diverse bacteria with effects ranging from nothing or a mild sore throat, to flesh eating disease, causing death in 40-60% of patients. The major and most common illnesses associated with this bacteria

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

The pathway I have selected to discuss from pervious placement is the Pneumonia pathway. The national agenda I have chosen heading this topic is the National Institute for Health and care Excellence (NICE). Under the pneumonia pathway I will concentrate on the “Adult with community acquired pneumonia path which is within the pathway. Pneumonia, is a lower respiratory tract infection in which there is an inflammation of the lung(s) caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most

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

Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by Streptococcus pneumonia and is spread through coughing, sneezing and close contact with others. Individuals can develop severe infections from these bacteria such as pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia as well as less severe infections, such as ear infections and sinus infections. However, obtaining the pneumococcal vaccine is the best way to prevent severe disease and its spread. Currently, Pneumovax (PPSV23) and Prevnar 13 (PCV13) are the two types of pneumococcal vaccines approved

Pneumocephalus, defined as an accumulation of intracranial air, is a common finding after neurosurgical procedures. However, pneumocephalus is not associated with any symptoms in the vast majority of cases [1, 2]. In addition to neurosurgery, other possible causes of pneumocephalus include craniofacial trauma, infections, and tumors of the skull base. Although is not frequent, spontaneous pneumocephalus has been described as well. By Reasoner et al., 66% of CT scans performed after intracranial surgery showed 5-10% of the volume being occupied by intracranial air with all postoperative scans detecting trace amounts of air [2]. The time required for complete reabsorption of the entrapped air is approximately 2-3

Meningococcal Meningitis is the infection and inflammation of the meninges. Newborns and infants are at greatest risk for contracting bacterial meningitis with Neisseria meningitides being the typical pathogen in the majority of children age 2 months through 12 years (London, Ladewig, Ball, Bindler, & Cowen, 2011). There is a mortality rate of 10% for children who develop meningitis from this particular bacterium (Muller, 2013).

This is also a problem of ignorance or lack of health care. Some parents ignore the danger that they exposed their children by not having them take their vaccinations on time. For example, when a child is a few days old one vaccination that is crucial is the pneumococcal vaccine. According to Dr. Katherine Poehling, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, states that "Children between the ages of two and 23 months of age need to get the pneumococcal disease vaccine. They benefit tremendously from it, as do younger infants and even their grandparents." This disease is cause by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. The bacteria can cause a variety of diseases, including ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis and the blood infection bacteremia. The more serious disorders, such as pneumonia, meningitis and bacteremia, are often referred to as "invasive pneumococcal disease." (2006). If parents do not take notice of this serious disease, children who suffer disorders like pneumonia will have weak lungs, and as a result they will always be absent from school or work. Also meningitis can cause cognitive delays. Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges (the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord). It is most often caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Bacterial meningitis may lead to brain damage, learning disabilities,

Streptococcus pneumoniae is found worldwide. The common host is the human body, in which it often does not cause disease but at other times it can cause diseses in particular, pneumonia. It also causes otitis media, bacteremia, meningitis, peritonitis, and sinusitis. The route by which this organism is spread is from human to human in the form of aerosol droplets. When inside the host the organism’s primary site of pneumococcal colonization is the nasopharynx. From this site it can aspire to the lungs, eventually spread to the blood and traverse the blood-brain barrier to the meninges, once inside the blood it can cause infections throughout the body. Symptoms of the disease include sudden

Pneumonia is an illness of the lower respiratory tract in which the lungs become inflamed and congested and alveolar spaces are filled with fluid and cells-polymorphs and lymphocytes (Mandell L.A). It is an inflammatory condition of the lung and it is one of the most serious infections, causing two million deaths annually among the young and elderly. Pneumonia is the largest killer, accounting for 28% to 34% of all child deaths below five years of age in low-income countries and is an important cause of mortality in the elderly in high-income countries (Suárez).

Pneumococcal infections cause a considerable amount of illnesses and premature death in the United States. According to a 2005 report from the CDC, pneumococcal disease in the United States is the cause of death for approximately 3,500 people age 65 and under. Pneumonia and influenza remain “the sixth leading cause of deaths for the general population and the fifth leading cause of deaths for elderly persons in the United States (Li, Y., Norton, E., Dow, W. 2004, p. 905). 90% of the total deaths due to pneumonia and influenza are elderly persons (p. 905).

Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia which is caused by Legionella bacteria. Legionella bacteria was first identified in 1976 as a cause of pneumonia. This bacteria can account for 2-15% of total number of pneumonia cases requiring hospitalization in the United States. There are around 40 types of Legionella. Around 10 to 40 thousand people in the U.S. develop Legionnaires’ disease every year. People over 50 years of age are more likely to become ill from this disease. A greater risk is involved in people who suffer from certain health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, lung disease and or malignancy. Studies have shown people with AIDs and HIV infection do not seem to contract this disease.