Summary Pneumonia

Pneumonia

- Infection of the lungs caused by microbial pathogens – bacteria, fungi and viruses

- Infection causes inflammation of the alveoli

- Viral and bacterial pneumonia is spread to others by inhalation of airbourne droplets, also
spread by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces

- Fungal pneumonia is contracted from the environment, via fungal spores, but cannot be
transmitted between people



Pathophysiology

- Symptoms include cough with sputum, fever, sweats/chills, shortness of breath and pleuritic
chest pain

- Bacterial pneumonia often initially presents as a non-productive cough,

- Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common causative agent of bacterial pneumonia,
with the type III strain being one of the most virulent

- Streptococcus pneumoniae type III strain is present in cases of all ages, but particularly
prominent in patients over 70

- Other causative agents of pneumonia include:

o Bacterial

 Mycoplasma pneumoniae – common in children and young people

 Haemophilus influenzae (Pittman capsular type B) – rare, mainly in infants

 Legionella pneumophila – common in patients 45 and over


o Viral

 Influenza

 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

 Rhinoviruses


o Fungal

 Pneumocystis jirovecii

 Cryptococcus sp.

 Histoplasmosis sp.

 Aspergillus sp.