Pneumonia Overview and Types

Pneumonia

• Infection affecting one or both lungs
• Air sacs (alveoli) fill with fluid or pus
• Types:
  • Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP): Acquired outside healthcare facility
  • Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP): Acquired during hospitalization
  • Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP): Acquired after 48 hours of endotracheal intubation
  • Aspiration pneumonia: Inhaling bacteria from food, drink, or saliva
  • Walking pneumonia: Milder case, may not be noticeable
• Risk Factors: Infants, elderly, weakened immune systems, chronic medical conditions (asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes), exposure to irritants
• Diagnosis:
  • Chest X-ray: Identifies fluid or pus buildup
  • CT or MRI scan: Determines lung damage
  • Bronchoscopy: Shows inflammation and lung tissue changes
  • Histologic/tissue cultures: Identify bacteria or other pathogens
  • Needle biopsy: Identifies TB granulomas and giant cells
  • Electrolytes, ABGs, Pulmonary function studies Assess overall health and lung function

Tuberculosis

• Latent TB infection: Immune system controls the infection, but bacteria remains dormant
• Active TB infection: Immune system cannot control the infection, causing disease in the lungs or other body parts
• Transmission: Direct contact with respiratory droplets from an infected individual
• Diagnosis:
  • Sputum culture: Positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Ziehl-Neelsen stain: Positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB)
  • Skin tests (PPD or OT): Positive reaction indicates past infection and presence of antibodies
• Treatment: Anti-TB drugs such as rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol
• Complications: Pneumothorax, respiratory failure, pneumonia

Ebola

• Transmission: Direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, or objects contaminated with body fluids
• Incubation period: 2-21 days, average 8-10 days
• Symptoms: Fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rash, sore throat
• Complications: Bleeding, organ failure, shock, death

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

• Transmission: Droplets from infected individuals
• Diagnosis:
  • RT-PCR tests: Considered the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis
  • Antigen tests: Faster results, less sensitive
  • Antibody tests: Indicate past exposure, not current infection
• Symptoms: Fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste or smell
• Complications: Pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure, death

Nursing Management for SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, COVID-19

• Assessment: History of travel, contact with infected individuals, and symptoms
• Nursing Goals: Prevent infection spread, educate patients, control body temperature, restore breathing patterns, reduce anxiety
• Key Nursing Interventions: Hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation precautions, symptom management, education and support

This quiz provides a comprehensive overview of pneumonia, including its different types such as community-acquired, hospital-acquired, and aspiration pneumonia. Understand the risk factors, diagnostic methods, and key features associated with this lung infection. Test your knowledge on the essentials of pneumonia and improve your understanding of respiratory health.