Pneumonia
Introduction.
Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that has multiple causes, such as
viruses and bacteria. Among the more common causes are Mycobacterium,
Chlamydophila, Mycoplasma, Streptococcus, and viruses. In immunocompromised individuals,
Pneumocystic carinii, a fungus, is a frequent cause of pneumonia. Symptoms can be mild or severe, leading
to edema and inability to do gas exchange. In severe cases, patients literally
drown in their own body fluids.
Summary
Cause: Chlamydophila pneumoniae
- Microscopy: Gram-negative obligate intracellular pathogen, very
small
- Transmission: Airborne
- Symptoms: mild (bronchitis) to severe (pneumonia); cough, malaise
- Complications: atherosclerosis
- Pathogenesis: Intracellular growth in epithelial cells,
macrophages, vascular smooth muscle; inflammation
- Treatment: macrolides, tetracyclines
Cause: Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Microscopy: Cell-wall-less (Gram-negative) pleomorphic
- Transmission: Airborne
- Symptoms: fever, malaise, headache, cough
- Complications: primary atypical pneumonia
- Pathogenesis: Damage of ciliated respiratory epithelium; adhesion
- Treatment: Erythromycin, tetracycline
Cause: Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Microscopy: Gram-positive diplococci
- Transmission: Airborne
- Symptoms:
- Complications:
- Pathogenesis:
- Treatment:
Pneumocystis pneumonia
- Cause: Pneumocystis carinii
- Microscopy: Cysts (~ 5 um) in lung tissue and sputum
- Transmission: Airborne
- Symptoms: Fever, pneumonitis
- Complications: Asphyxiation, systemic spread, particularly in AIDS
- Pathogenesis: Host inflammatory response
- Treatment: Trimethoprim - sulfamethoxasole
Summary
- Cause:
- Microscopy:
- Transmission:
- Symptoms:
- Complications:
- Pathogenesis:
- Treatment: