Pneumonia

Transmission of Respiratory Pathogens

• Respiratory pathogens that cause pneumonia can be transmitted through direct contact, airborne transmission, or contaminated surfaces and objects.

Pathogen Overload

• When the amount of pathogen in the lungs is great enough to overtake the immune defense, the body's natural defense mechanisms are overwhelmed, leading to infection.

Impact on Ventilation and Diffusion

• Pneumonia impacts ventilation and diffusion in the lungs by causing inflammation, which leads to increased resistance to airflow and decreased gas exchange.

Response to Inflammation

• In response to inflammation in pneumonia, the alveoli fill with exudate, a fluid containing white blood cells, bacteria, and cellular debris.

Ventilation-Perfusion Mismatch

• A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch in pneumonia occurs when the airspaces are filled with exudate, preventing proper ventilation, while the blood vessels remain perfused, leading to inadequate oxygenation.

Types of Pneumonia

• Bronchopneumonia involves inflammation that is not localized to one lobe of the lung, but rather spreads throughout the lung tissue.

Tissue Breakdown

• In severe pneumonia, tissue breakdown can occur, leading to the formation of abscesses or cavities in the lung tissue.

Spread of Infection

• Empyema is the term used to describe the spread of a severe infection to the pleural space, resulting in the production of exudate.