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Antibiotics are the treatment of choice for bacterial pneumonia, with ventilation (oxygen supplement) as supportive therapy. The antibiotic choice depends on the nature of the pneumonia, the microorganisms most commonly causing pneumonia in the geographical region, and the immune status and underlying health of the individual.
With treatment, most types of bacterial pneumonia will stabilize in 3–6 days. [2] It often takes a few weeks before most symptoms resolve. [2] X-ray findings typically clear within four weeks and mortality is low (less than 1%). [24] [139] In the elderly or people
It is the most common bacterial pneumonia found in adults, the most common type of community-acquired pneumonia, and one of the common types of pneumococcal infection. The estimated number of Americans with pneumococcal pneumonia is 900,000 annually, with almost 400,000 cases hospitalized and fatalities accounting for 5-7% of these cases. [2]
After S. pneumoniae colonizes the air sacs of the lungs, the body responds by stimulating the inflammatory response, causing plasma, blood, and white blood cells to fill the alveoli. This condition is called bacterial pneumonia. [25] S. pneumoniae undergoes spontaneous phase variation, changing between transparent and opaque colony phenotypes.
[13] [15] Pneumonia is also the leading cause of death in children less than five years of age in low income countries. [15] The most common cause of pneumonia is pneumococcal bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae accounts for 2/3 of bacteremic pneumonias. [16] Invasive pneumococcal pneumonia has a mortality rate of around 20%. [14]
S. pneumoniae is a common member of the bacterial flora colonizing the nose and throat of 5–10% of healthy adults and 20–40% of healthy children. [2] However, it is also a cause of significant disease, being a leading cause of pneumonia, bacterial meningitis, and sepsis.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia, also called nosocomial pneumonia, is pneumonia acquired during or after hospitalization for another illness or procedure with onset at least 72 hrs after admission. The causes, microbiology, treatment and prognosis are different from those of community-acquired pneumonia.
Systemic steroids are considered the first line treatment for organizing pneumonia, with patient's often having clinical improvement within 72 hours of steroid initiation and most patient's achieving recovery. [22] [9] A prolonged treatment course is indicated, with patients usually requiring at least 4-6 months of treatment. [9]