Pneumonia

Leading cause of death and hospitalization in

seniors

What is pneumonia?
Infection of the lungs
Caused by different
germs such as bacteria,
fungi & viruses
Breathing in these germs
will cause them to settle
in the air sacs (alveoli) of
the lungs
These germs begin to
grow in the lungs and
overcome the bodys
normal defenses

What is pneumonia?
The air sacs in the
lungs fill with mucus
and pus
The inflammation in the
alveoli prevents
oxygen from reaching
blood stream
This inflammation
causes other
symptoms such as
fever, chest pain and
cough

Pneumonia can affect different areas of

the lungs
Bronchial pneumonia: affects the lungs in patches
Lobar pneumonia: affect a section (lobe) of the lung

What causes pneumonia?

Community-acquired pneumonia
Hospital-acquired pneumonia
Health care-acquired pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia

Community-acquired
pneumonia
Bacteria
Such as Streptococcus pneumoniae
Affects one area of the lung, called lobar pneumonia

Bacteria-like organisms
Such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Walking pneumonia
Pneumonia that is not severe enough for bed rest

Viruses
Same as those that cause colds and flus
Viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia in young
children

Fungi
Found in soil or bird droppings
Common in people with weakened immune systems or
underlying health problems

Hospital care-acquired
pneumonia
Bacterial infection that
occurs in people that are
hospitalized for another
condition
Happens within 48 hours
or more
Can be serious because
the bacteria causing it
may be resistant to
antibiotics
People on ventilators are
at higher risk for this type
of pneumonia

Health care-acquired
pneumonia
Occurs in people living
in long-term care
facilities or being
treated in outpatient
clinics
Resistant to antibiotics

Aspiration pneumonia
Occurs when inhaling food, drink, saliva or vomit
into lungs

Happens when normal gag reflex is disturbed

Such as brain injury, excessive drug or alcohol
use and swallowing problems

Symptoms
Nausea
Diarrhea
Headache
Muscle aches
Sweating
Vomiting

Cough
Fever
SOB
Shaking
Chest pain
Fast
heartbeat
Fatigue

Diagnosing pneumonia
Physician will request
the following tests:
Sputum tests (done
on mucus or phlegm)
Chest x-rays
Blood tests

What happens?
Takes as little as 1-3
days or as long as 7-10
for symptoms to
appear
Severity of pneumonia:
Age & Health
Older & sicker
people have severe
cases

Viral pneumonia is
less severe than
bacterial pneumonia

Treatment:
The sooner it is
treated the sooner
the symptoms
disappear
Immune system

Risk factors
Smoking
Medical conditions:
COPD & asthma

Younger than 1 or older

than 65
Impaired immune
system
PPI medications
Ex. Prilosec &
Protonix

Excessive amounts of
alcohol

Spleen removal
Reside somewhere
people live in close
corridors (ex. dorms,
nursing homes)

When to seek treatment

Chest pain that is
squeezing or crushing
and increasing in
intensity.
Difficulty breathing
Coughing up excessive
amounts of blood
Feelings of fainting

Fever with shaking

chills

Prevention
Proper hand washing
Dispose used tissues
Do not share eating
utensils with sick
people

Stay away from sick

people

Annual flu shot

Pneumococcal shot

Quiz
1.

Brief summary of pneumonia

2.

What areas of the lungs can be affected?

3.

What causes pneumonia?

4.

Name five symptoms of pneumonia

5.

Name three risk factors of pneumonia

6.

How can one prevent pneumonia from occurring?

7.

What are the four causes of community-acquired

pneumonia?

References
Canadian Lung Association. (2012). Pneumonia. Retrieved from
http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/pneumoniapneumonie/index_e.php
Mayo Clinic. (2013). Pneumonia. Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/pneumonia-topic-overview
WebMD. (2013). Pneumonia topic overview. Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/pneumonia-topic-overview