Streptococcus Pneumoniae ( S. Pneumoniae Essay

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

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

Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection which is caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumonia is transmitted via air-borne droplets from coughing and sneezing, and it may also spread through blood. In 2015, pneumonia killed 15 percent of all deaths in children under the age of five, becoming the leading cause of death in children all over the world (World Health Organization [WHO], 2015a). Many efforts were made to reduce the prevalence of pneumonia, including the free vaccination program in 2011 against pneumonia in Kenya, which is supported by WHO and GAVI Alliance (WHO, 2015b). However, in 2012, Kenya was still ranked among the 15 countries with the highest number of deaths cause by pneumonia, suggesting problems with current policies (Onyango, Kikuvi, Amukoye, & Omolo, 2012). This paper will evaluate these existing policies and discuss potential solutions to overcome the epidemic of pneumonia in Kenya.

Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as Group A streptococcus (GAS), is a β-hemolytic, Gram-positive bacterium that most commonly causes respiratory disease, including pharyngitis or tonsillitis, as well as skin infections such as impetigo and cellulitis. The organism is transmitted via respiratory droplets or by contact with fomites, and commonly infects young children. In addition to the common clinical presentations associated with S. pyogenes, some individuals develop the postinfectious sequelae of rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis. Due to the severity of these medical consequences, prophylactic antibiotic use is often recommended for any patients with otherwise mild S. pyogenes infections (21).

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

Streptococcus is becoming more resistant to antibiotics. Over a period of three years from September 1, 1993 to August 31, 1996 a study was done on children suffering from the resistant group A streptococcus (Dr. Arditi, 1999). This new group A strain caused children pneumococcal meningitis. Researches looked at eight different hospitals in the United States and one hundred and eighty cases within these three years. The study was designed to look at clinical presentation, hospital course, and the outcome from the children being cured. As they watched and monitored the children's progress on the different antibiotics used to cure streptococcus. Also the researchers has to take into consideration if the streptococcus was becoming resistant, which antibiotics were given as treatment, and from those antibiotics which streptococcus became

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung which results into an excess of fluid or pus accumulating into the alveoli of the lung. Pneumonia impairs gas exchange which leads to hypoxemia and is acquire by inhaling a contagious organism or an irritating agent. (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). Fungal, bacteria and viruses are the most common organisms that can be inhale. Pneumonia could be community-acquired or health care associated. Community –acquired pneumonia (CAP) occurs out of a healthcare facility while health care associated pneumonia (HAP) is acquired in a healthcare facility. HAP are more resistant to antibiotic and patients on ventilators and those receiving kidney dialysis have a higher risk factor. Infants, children and the elderly also have a higher risk of acquiring pneumonia due to their immune system inability to fight the virus. Pneumonia can also be classified as aspiration pneumonia if it arises by inhaling saliva, vomit, food or drink into the lungs. Patients with abnormal gag reflex, dysphagia, brain injury, and are abusing drug or alcohol have a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia (Mayo Clinic, 2013). In the case of patient E.O., this patient had rhonchi in the lower lobe and the upper lobe sound was coarse and diminished. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include difficulty breathing, chest pain, wheezing, fever, headache, chills, cough, confusion, pain in muscle or

“Streptococcus Pyogenes is a Gram-positive, nonmotile, nonsporeforming coccus that occurs in chains or in pairs of cells.” (Todar's Online Book of Bacteriology) In history, Streptococcus pyogenes got its ill repute as the cause of puerperal fever, a life-threatening disease that was seen in women after childbirth, until Ignaz Semmelweis exposed that it could be stopped by physicians just washing their hands before each vaginal examination.( Live Strong) S. pyogenes is one of the most frequent pathogens found in humans. An estimate of between 5-15% of humans port the bacterium S. pyogenes without any symptoms of illness. S. pyogenes can be usually found habituating in the respiratory tract of humans. Several infections cause by Streptococcus Pyogenes includes pharyngitis, or better known as strep throat, scarlet fever, impetigo, cellulitis, and rheumatic fever. (Todar’s Online Book of Bacteriology)

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

Pneumococcal Disease is a deadly, if not treated in time or correctly, infection that is caused by a strand of bacteria called Streptococcus Pneumoniae. It is capable of causing pneumonia in the lungs, bacteremia in the bloodstream, meningitis, encephalitis, and middle ear and sinus infections. It travels from person to person through breathing in tiny respiratory droplets from an infected person. Pneumococcal disease kills about 5000 people in the U.S yearly with more of them being under the age of 2 or over the age of 65. These two age groups are targeted the most because it’s when your immune system starts to build up but still not as effective or when your immune system starts to become ineffective

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).

Streptococcus Pneumoniae, more often called S. Pneumoniae or Pneumococcus, is a significant human pathogenic bacterium. A normal inhabitant of the upper respiratory tract, approximately 1 in 4 people carries the bacteria asymptomatically. Education on what illnesses the bacteria can cause, the signs and symptoms of the bacteria, who is the most at risk for infection along with how it is transmitted, and possible treatments are crucial to understanding the bacteria and helping to stop the spread.

M. pneumoniae is generally referred to as primary atypical or walking pneumonia because the symptoms are not as sever as pneumonia. The symptoms include a dry hacking cough, fever, and headache. The symptoms will last for about 2 to 3 weeks. M. pneumoniae affects people worldwide. Typically only 33 % of people who have M. pneumoniae will get atypical pneumonia. The majority, 77 %, will come down with an upper tract infection (tracheaobronchitis). (Pulmonary Disorders pg 609) M. pneumoniae is transmitted through aerosol droplets. The bacterium is capable of infecting anyone at any time but it has a pattern of coming in the fall and winter and causing an outbreak every 4 to 8 years, although more tight communities occur more frequently. The pathogen rarely occurs on children less than 4 years of age. Since the bacterium lacks a cell wall, B-lactums are futile against them. The body’s immune system is responsible for killing the pathogen. There were 2 million cases in the US with 100,000 requiring hospitalization. The mortality rate is very low with only occasional fatalities among the elderly and sickle cell anemia persons. ( ).

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

This is a case of a 74 year old woman who was diagnosed with Community Acquired Pneumonia.