NAME: Espinosa, Jhanna Theresse D.

YEAR & SECTION: BSN 2-B

SUBJECT/AREA: RLE- OPD WEEK & DATE: NOVEMBER 22, 2022

PNEUMONIA

What is Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid
or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. A variety of
organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia.

Causes of Pneumonia
Many germs can cause pneumonia. The most common are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe.
Your body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your
immune system, even if your health is generally good.

Community-acquired pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia. It occurs outside of hospitals or
other health care facilities. It may be caused by:

• Bacteria. The most common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae. This type of pneumonia
can occur on its own or after you've had a cold or the flu. It may affect one part (lobe) of the lung, a condition
called lobar pneumonia.
• Bacteria-like organisms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae also can cause pneumonia. It typically produces milder
symptoms than do other types of pneumonia. Walking pneumonia is an informal name given to this type of
pneumonia, which typically isn't severe enough to require bed rest.
• Fungi. This type of pneumonia is most common in people with chronic health problems or weakened immune
systems, and in people who have inhaled large doses of the organisms. The fungi that cause it can be found in soil
or bird droppings and vary depending upon geographic location.
• Viruses, including COVID-19. Some of the viruses that cause colds and the flu can cause pneumonia. Viruses
are the most common cause of pneumonia in children younger than 5 years. Viral pneumonia is usually mild. But
in some cases it can become very serious. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) may cause pneumonia, which can
become severe.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia
Some people catch pneumonia during a hospital stay for another illness. Hospital-acquired pneumonia
can be serious because the bacteria causing it may be more resistant to antibiotics and because the people who get it are
already sick. People who are on breathing machines (ventilators), often used in intensive care units, are at higher risk of
this type of pneumonia.

Health care-acquired pneumonia

Health care-acquired pneumonia is a bacterial infection that occurs in people who live in long-term care
facilities or who receive care in outpatient clinics, including kidney dialysis centers. Like hospital-acquired pneumonia,
health care-acquired pneumonia can be caused by bacteria that are more resistant to antibiotics.

Aspiration pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia occurs when you inhale food, drink, vomit or saliva into your lungs. Aspiration is
more likely if something disturbs your normal gag reflex, such as a brain injury or swallowing problem, or excessive use
of alcohol or drugs.
Incubation Period of Pneumonia
The incubation period of pneumococcal pneumonia is short, about 1 to 3 days.

Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia

• Chest pain when you breathe or cough

• Cough, which may produce phlegm
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Fever, sweating and shaking chills
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems)
• Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)

Laboratory Procedures to Confirm Pneumonia

A blood culture test can identify the germ causing your pneumonia and also show whether a bacterial infection
has spread to your blood. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test quickly checks your blood or sputum sample to find the
DNA of germs that cause pneumonia

Treatment and Managements

Mild pneumonia can usually be treated at home with rest, antibiotics (if it's likely be caused by a bacterial
infection) and by drinking plenty of fluids. More severe cases may need hospital treatment.

Treatment at home
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and get plenty of rest to help your body recover.
• Painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, may help relieve pain and reduce fever.
• Cough medicines are not recommended as there is little evidence they are effective. A warm honey and
lemon drink can help relieve discomfort caused by coughing.
Treatment in hospital
• You should be given antibiotics as soon as possible if your pneumonia is likely to be caused by a
bacterial infection.
• You will probably not be given antibiotics if the cause is likely to be a virus, such as coronavirus. This is
because antibiotics do not work for viral infections.
• You may also be given fluids intravenously through a drip, and you may need oxygen to help breathing.
In serious cases of pneumonia, breathing assistance through a ventilator in an intensive care unit (ICU)
may be required.

Prognosis
Most pneumonia is treated successfully, especially if antibiotics are started early. Pneumonia can be fatal. The
very old and frail, especially those with many other medical conditions, are most vulnerable.

Pneumonia usually does not cause permanent damage to the lungs. Rarely, pneumonia causes infected fluid to
collect around the outside of the lung, called an empyema. The empyema may need to be drained with a special tube or
surgery. With aspiration pneumonia, the affected lung may develop a lung abscess that needs many weeks of antibiotic
therapy.

References
NHS. (2019). Pneumonia. NHS. Retrieved https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pneumonia/treatment/
Harvard Health. (2018). Pneumonia. Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved
https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/pneumonia-a-to-z
Mayo Clinic. (n.d.) Pneumonia. mayoclinic. Retrieved https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/pneumonia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354210
 PNEUMONIA

ESPINOSA, JHANNA THERESSE D.

OPD 2-B

Constantina Chan

SIGNATURE
PNEUMONIA Laboratory Procedures to Confirm Pneumonia
A blood culture test can identify the germ causing your pneumonia
What is Pneumonia and also show whether a bacterial infection has spread to your blood. A
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test quickly checks your blood or sputum
one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), sample to find the DNA of germs that cause pneumonia
causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. A
variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause Treatment and Managements
pneumonia. Mild pneumonia can usually be treated at home with rest,
antibiotics (if it's likely be caused by a bacterial infection) and by drinking
Causes of Pneumonia plenty of fluids. More severe cases may need hospital treatment.
Many germs can cause pneumonia. The most common
are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. Your body usually prevents Treatment at home
these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can • Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and get
overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good. plenty of rest to help your body recover.
• Painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, may help
Community-acquired pneumonia relieve pain and reduce fever.
Community-acquired pneumonia is the most common • Cough medicines are not recommended as there is little
type of pneumonia. It occurs outside of hospitals or other health care facilities. evidence they are effective. A warm honey and lemon
It may be caused by: drink can help relieve discomfort caused by coughing.
Treatment in hospital
• Bacteria. The most common cause of bacterial pneumonia is • You should be given antibiotics as soon as possible if
Streptococcus pneumoniae. This type of pneumonia can occur on your pneumonia is likely to be caused by a bacterial
its own or after you've had a cold or the flu. It may affect one part infection.
(lobe) of the lung, a condition called lobar pneumonia. • You will probably not be given antibiotics if the cause
• Bacteria-like organisms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae also can cause is likely to be a virus, such as coronavirus. This is
pneumonia. It typically produces milder symptoms than do other because antibiotics do not work for viral infections.
types of pneumonia. Walking pneumonia is an informal name given • You may also be given fluids intravenously through a
to this type of pneumonia, which typically isn't severe enough to drip, and you may need oxygen to help breathing. In
require bed rest. serious cases of pneumonia, breathing assistance
• Fungi. This type of pneumonia is most common in people with through a ventilator in an intensive care unit (ICU) may
chronic health problems or weakened immune systems, and in be required.
people who have inhaled large doses of the organisms. The fungi
that cause it can be found in soil or bird droppings and vary Prognosis
depending upon geographic location. Most pneumonia is treated successfully, especially if antibiotics
• Viruses, including COVID-19. Some of the viruses that cause are started early. Pneumonia can be fatal. The very old and frail, especially
colds and the flu can cause pneumonia. Viruses are the most those with many other medical conditions, are most vulnerable.
common cause of pneumonia in children younger than 5 years.
Viral pneumonia is usually mild. But in some cases it can become Pneumonia usually does not cause permanent damage to the lungs.
very serious. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) may cause Rarely, pneumonia causes infected fluid to collect around the outside of the
pneumonia, which can become severe. lung, called an empyema. The empyema may need to be drained with a
special tube or surgery. With aspiration pneumonia, the affected lung may
Hospital-acquired pneumonia develop a lung abscess that needs many weeks of antibiotic therapy.
Some people catch pneumonia during a hospital stay
for another illness. Hospital-acquired pneumonia can be serious because the
bacteria causing it may be more resistant to antibiotics and because the people
who get it are already sick. People who are on breathing machines
(ventilators), often used in intensive care units, are at higher risk of this type
of pneumonia.

Health care-acquired pneumonia

Health care-acquired pneumonia is a bacterial infection
that occurs in people who live in long-term care facilities or who receive care
in outpatient clinics, including kidney dialysis centers. Like hospital-acquired
pneumonia, health care-acquired pneumonia can be caused by bacteria that
are more resistant to antibiotics.

Aspiration pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia occurs when you inhale food,
drink, vomit or saliva into your lungs. Aspiration is more likely if something
disturbs your normal gag reflex, such as a brain injury or swallowing problem,
or excessive use of alcohol or drugs.

Incubation Period of Pneumonia

The incubation period of pneumococcal pneumonia is
short, about 1 to 3 days.

Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia

• Chest pain when you breathe or cough

• Cough, which may produce phlegm
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Fever, sweating and shaking chills
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65
and people with weak immune systems)
• Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and
older)