Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which is usually caused by a bacteria, virus, or fungus. Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, one third of all people who developed pneumonia subsequently
died from the infection. Currently, over 3 million people develop pneumonia
each year in the United States. Over a half a million of these people are
admitted to a hospital for treatment. Although most of these people recover, approximately five percent will die from pneumonia. Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
How do people "catch pneumonia?"
Most cases of pneumonia are contracted by breathing in small
droplets that contain the bacteria or virus that can cause pneumonia.
These droplets get into the air when a person infected with these
germs coughs or sneezes. In other cases, pneumonia is caused when bacteria
or viruses that are normally present in the mouth, throat, or nose
inadvertently enter the lung. During sleep it is quite common for people to
aspirate secretions from the mouth, throat, or nose. Normally, the
body's reflex response (coughing back up the secretions) and immune system
will prevent a pneumonia from starting. However, if a person is in a
weakened condition from another illness, a severe pneumonia can develop. People
with emphysema, heart disease, and swallowing problems, as well as
alcoholics, drug users and those who have suffered a stroke or seizure are
at higher risk for developing pneumonia.
Once the bacteria, virus or fungus enter the lungs, they
usually settle in the air sacs of the lung where they rapidly grow in number.
This area of the lung then becomes filled with fluid and pus as the body
attempts to fight off the infection.
What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
Most people who develop pneumonia initially have symptoms of a
cold which is then followed by a high fever (sometimes as high as
104 degrees), shaking chills, and a cough with sputum production. The sputum
is often bloody. Chest pain may develop on one side and the patient may
become short of breath. In other cases of pneumonia, there can be a
slow onset of symptoms. A worsening cough, headaches, and muscle aches may be
the only symptoms. At times, the individual's skin color may change and
become dusky or purplish due to their blood being poorly oxygenated.
Children and babies often do not have any specific signs of a
chest infection, but develop a fever, appear quite ill, and can become lethargic. Elderly people may also have few symptoms with pneumonia.
How is pneumonia diagnosed?
Pneumonia may be suspected when the doctor examines the
patient and hears coarse breathing or crackling sounds when listening to a
portion of the chest with a stethoscope. There may be wheezing or the
sounds of breathing may be faint in a particular area of the chest. A
chest x-ray is usually ordered to confirm the diagnosis of pneumonia. Sputum
samples can be collected and examined under the microscope. If the
pneumonia is caused by a bacteria, it can often be detected by this examination. A
sample of the sputum can be grown in special incubators and the offending
bacteria can be subsequently identified. A blood test can be performed
(called a CBC) and the white blood cell count of this test can often give
a hint as to the severity of the pneumonia and whether it is caused by a
bacteria or a virus.
Bronchoscopy is a procedure in which a thin, flexible lighted
viewing tube is inserted into the nose or mouth after a local
anesthetic is administered. The breathing passages can then be directly
examined by the doctor and specimens from the infected part of the lung can be
obtained. Sometimes, fluid collects around the lung as a result of the
inflammation from pneumonia. This fluid is called a pleural effusion. If the
amount of this fluid that develops is large enough, it can be removed by
inserting a needle into the chest cavity and withdrawing the fluid with a
syringe. This procedure is called a thoracentesis.
What are some of the organisms that cause pneumonia and how
are they treated?
The most common cause of a bacterial pneumonia is
Streptococcus pneumoniae. There is usually an abrupt onset of the illness
with shaking chills, fever and a rust-colored sputum. The infection
spreads into the blood in 20-30% of cases and if this occurs 20-30% of
these patients die. A vaccine (PNEUMOVAX) is available and is
recommended for people who have diabetes, steroid-dependent asthma, alcoholism,
cigarette abuse and in those persons who have had their spleen removed.
Antibiotics often used in the treatment of this pneumonia
include penicillin, ampicillin-clavulanate (AUGMENTIN), and
erythromycin.
Hemophilus influenza is a bacteria that often causes
pneumonia in people suffering from emphysema or alcoholism. Useful
antibiotics are cefuroxime (CEFTIN), ampicillin-clavulanate (AUGMENTIN),
ofloxacin (FLOXIN), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (BACTRIM, SEPTRA).
Mycoplasma pneumonia is often a slowly developing
infection. Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, diarrhea, and
rash. This bacteria is the principal cause of many pneumonias in the
summer and fall months and is often referred to as "atypical
pneumonia." Erythromycin, clarithromycin (BIAXIN), and azithromycin
(ZITHROMAX) are antibiotics commonly prescribed for mycoplasma pneumonia.
Legionnaire's disease is caused by the bacteria Legionella
pneumoniae and is most often found in contaminated water
supplies and air conditioners. It is a potentially fatal infection if not
accurately diagnosed. Pneumonia is part of the overall infection and
symptoms include high fever, a relatively slow heart rate, diarrhea, nausea,
vomiting, and chest pain. Older men, smokers, and persons whose immune
systems are suppressed are at higher risk to develop Legionnaire's disease.
Erythromycin and other similar antibiotics are the treatment of
choice in this infection.
Viral pneumonias do not typically respond to antibiotic
treatment. These pneumonias usually resolve over time with the body's immune
system fighting off the infection. It is important to make sure that a
bacterial pneumonia does not secondarily develop. If it does, then the
bacterial pneumonia is treated with appropriate antibiotics.
Fungal pneumonias that can occur include actinomycosis,
nocardiosis, histoplasmosis, coccidiomycosis, blastomycosis, aspergillosis,
and cryptococcosis. These are responsible for a relatively small
percentage of pneumonias in the United States. Each has specific antibiotic
treatments among which are amphotericin B, fluconazole (DIFLUCAN),
penicillin, and sulfonamides.
Conclusions
Pneumonia can be a serious and life-threatening infection.
This is true especially in the elderly, children and those that have other
serious medical problems such as emphysema, heart disease, diabetes,
and certain cancers. Fortunately, with the discovery of many potent
antibiotics, most pneumonias are successfully treated. In fact, most pneumonias
can be treated with oral antibiotics and without the need for
hospitalization.
Pneumonia At A Glance
- Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by different types of microorganisms.
- Symptoms of pneumonia include cough with sputum production, fever, and chest pain when breathing in.
- Diagnosis of pneumonia is suspected when a doctor hears abnormal sounds in the chest and confirmed by a chest x-ray.
- Bacteria causing pneumonia can be identified in sputum by culturing.
- A pleural effusion is a fluid collection around the inflamed lung.
- Bacterial and fungal (but not viral) pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics.
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