Pneumonia
Crackles are heard when listening to the chest with a
DEFINITION:
An inflammation of the lungs caused by an infection.
ETIOLOGY:
Pneumonia is a very common, serious illness and affects
about 1 out of 100 people each year. It is caused by many
different organisms and can range in seriousness from mild
to life-threatening illness. There are different categories of
pneumonia.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY:
There are different categories of pneumonia. Two of these
types are hospital-acquired and community-acquired.
Common types of community-acquired pneumonia are
pneumococcal pneumonia and Mycoplasma pneumonia. In
some people, particularly the elderly and those who are
debilitated, pneumonia may follow influenza. Hospital-
acquired pneumonia tends to be more serious because
defense mechanisms against infection are often impaired.
Some of the specific pneumonia-related disorders include:
aspiration pneumonia, pneumonia in immunocompromised
host and viral pneumonia
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:
Cough (with mucus-like, greenish, or pus-like sputum
chills with shaking ), fever, easy fatigue, chest pain (sharp or
stabbing
increased by deep breathing or increased by coughing),
headache, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, general
discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise), joint stiffness
(rare), muscular stiffness (rare), rales
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this
disease: shortness of breath, clammy skin, nasal flaring,
coughing up blood, tacypnea, apnea, anxiety, stress, and
tension, abdominal pain .
The invading organism causes symptoms, in part, by provoking an overly exuberant
immune response in the lungs. The small blood vessels in the lungs (capillaries)
become leaky, and protein-rich fluid seeps into the alveoli. This results in a less
RELATED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS:
stethoscope (auscultation). Tests include: chest X-ray,
sputum gram stain, CBC, arterial blood gases. This disease
may also alter the results of the following tests: thoracic
CT, routine sputum culture, pulmonary
ventilation/perfusion scan, pleural fluid culture, lung
needle biopsy .
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT:
The goal of treatment is to cure the infection with
antibiotics. If the pneumonia is caused by a virus,
antibiotics will not be effective.
Supportive therapy includes oxygen and respiratory
treatments to remove secretions.
NURSING MANAGEMENT:
  Pt will need to have breath sounds monitored q
4° to determine if pneumonia is progressing.
  O2 sats should be done regularly ( at least
q4°during acute phase) to make sure that patient is
getting adequate perfusion.
  Make sure to give all scheduled antibiotics on
schedule so that therapeutic ranges are maintained.
  Any s/s of infection must be monitored and
reported to MD.
HEALTH DEVIATION SELF-CARE REQUISITES:
  Pt will need to continue on scheduled antibiotics
after discharge. Teaching may be necessary to inform
patient of therapeutic ranges and need to take all of
meds, even if they are feeling better.
  Pt will need to get a PneumonoVax (if does not
all ready have0 to help prevent future outbreaks of
pneumonia.
  Pt will need to be taught S/S of infection and
when to report to MD.
functional area for oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange. The patient becomes relatively
oxygen deprived, while retaining potentially damaging carbon dioxide. The patient

breathes faster and faster, in an effort to bring in more oxygen and blow off more carbon
dioxide.

Mucus production is increased, and the leaky capillaries may tinge the mucus with
blood. Mucus plugs actually further decrease the efficiency of gas exchange in the lung.
The alveoli fill further with fluid and debris from the large number of white blood cells
being produced to fight the infection.

Consolidation, a feature of bacterial pneumonias, occurs when the alveoli, which are
normally hollow air spaces within the lung, instead become solid, due to quantities of
fluid and debris.

Viral pneumonias, and mycoplasma pneumonias, do not result in consolidation. These

types of pneumonia primarily infect the walls of the alveoli and the parenchyma of the
lung.

Read more: Pneumonia - Pathophysiology Of Pneumonia

http://science.jrank.org/pages/5358/Pneumonia-Pathophysiology-
pneumonia.html#ixzz0ho0A6IHF