Pneumonia Classifications and Types

Pneumonia

• Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, specifically the air sacs (alveoli) which fill with fluid or pus
• Pneumonia can affect one or both lungs

Pneumonia Classifications

• Pneumonia is classified into multiple types including:

  Anatomy/Histology:

    - Lobar pneumonia: Affecting a single lobe of the lung
    - Bronchopneumonia: Patchy areas of multiple lobes and bronchioles
    - Interstitial pneumonia: Affecting the interstitium of the lung
  

  Etiology:

    - Bacterial
    - Viral
    - Fungal
    - Atypical
    - Parasitic
    - Aspiration
  

  Acquired location:

    - Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP): Symptoms develop within 48 hours of hospital admission
    - Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP): Symptoms develop after 48 hours of hospital admission
    - Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP): Symptoms develop within 48 hours of intubation or after 48 hours of extubation
    - Aspiration pneumonia: Infection from food or foreign material entering the lungs
  

CAP - Community Acquired Pneumonia

• Leading cause of death in infectious diseases
• Only 38% of patients are reported back with the pathogens
• Risk factors:
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Household size
  • Comorbidities
  • Age (cough and gag reflex?)
• 10-15% of CAP cases are polymicrobial
• Typical bacteria:
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (S pneumoniae)
  • Haemophilus influenzae (H influenza)
  • Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus)
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae (K pneumonia)
  • Pseudomona aeruginosa (P aeruginese)
• Atypical microorganism:
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae
  • Legionella species
  • Respiratory viruses
    • Influenza A and B
    • Rhinovirus
    • Human metapneumovirus
    • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
    • Parainfluenza
    • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)
    • Adenovirus
• S.aureus pneumonia is known to complicate influenza virus infection

This quiz covers the various classifications of pneumonia, including anatomical, etiological, and location-based categories. Learn about different types such as lobar, bronchopneumonia, and the distinction between community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Test your knowledge on this crucial respiratory infection.