Treatment of bacterial pneumonia in adults. Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment of bacterial pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia is a microbial infection of the respiratory organs of the respiratory system, which occurs with the occurrence of intraalveolar exudation and affected infiltration of the lung parenchyma. This significantly reduces the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. During the occurrence of the pathogen in the organs, the patient develops shortness of breath and pain when inhaling.

The risk group includes children who have not reached the age of 5 and the elderly who are over 75 years old. This pathology leads to a significant number of complications and a high probability of death of the patient.

Bacterial pneumonia refers to a type of infectious disease that has an adverse effect on the human respiratory system. This type of pneumonia is caused by bacteria. For some cases, damage by viruses, fungi, chemicals is characteristic.

Lung damage can be mild or severe, which leads to respiratory failure, and subsequently to the death of the patient. The severity of pneumonia is determined based on the pathogenicity of the bacteria, the age of the person, the state of health and the protective function of the body.

Timely treatment with antibacterial drugs will significantly reduce the risk of developing an acute form of respiratory inferiority.

Disease classification

Based on the clinical development of the disease, there are:

focal (bronchial pneumonia);
lobar (lobar-croupous form).

The focal form is characterized by inflammatory changes that affect individual areas of the lung tissue and adjacent bronchi.

The lobar form is characterized by damage to the parenchyma of an entire lobe of the organ. Often, the infection affects the lower parts of the respiratory system, accounting for 70% of cases.

In a patient, bacterial pneumonia can have unilateral and bilateral development. With a bilateral type, a one-time lesion of the pleural area is observed. If treatment is absent, pleural pneumonia may form.

The classification of nosological types of the disease is based on the types of infections that cause pneumonia.

Pneumococcus.
Staphylococci.
Streptococci.
Meningococcus.
Haemophilus influenzae.
Klebsiella.
Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Forms of infection of bacterial pneumonia

Inflammation of the respiratory organs is divided into forms, based on the site of infection.

Inside the hospital.
Outside a medical facility.

The defeat of the infection within the walls of the clinic carries a great danger, as it has resistance to antibacterial drugs.

nosocomial infection

You can catch pneumonia within 3 days after contact with bacteria in stationary conditions or outpatient therapy. This type of disease is difficult to treat with antibiotics and can cause severe symptoms.

The most common causative agents of nosocomial lung infections are Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, which are resistant to methicillin.

Bacterial inflammation of the lungs is often found:

in newborn babies;
people over 55;
persons with a weakened immune system;
smokers.

community-acquired infection

Community-acquired illness refers to an infection that occurs as a result of the penetration of bacteria into the body from the environment. This type of infection is the most common. The infection passes through the airborne route, during coughing and sneezing of a nearby patient or through contact with another patient.

List of bacteria that cause bacterial pneumonia.

Pneumococcus is the most common cause of infection. It settles in the nasopharynx of a healthy person. If a person's immunity decreases by inhaling, this microorganism is transferred from the nasal passage to the respiratory organs, also to the wound, the site of infection where blood oozes.
Haemophilus influenzae - prevails on the tissues of the upper respiratory tract. Does not lead to the development of the disease before the immune status is disturbed.
Klebsiella; - present on the skin, in the oral cavity, esophagus. It affects the category of people whose body defenses are weakened.
Staphylococcus aureus - a bacterium often found in drug addicts, patients with chronic ailments, children with an immature protective function. The bacterium can be present on the skin, in the mouth, intestines.

Causes of risk

The main factor in the development of bacterial pneumonia is a previous cold. It contributes to the weakening of the body, affecting the respiratory system in a negative way.

Also, a provoking factor is renal inferiority, which leads to a weakening of a person. Due to insufficiency, metabolic processes slow down, the immunity and functional abilities of a person deteriorate.

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels, chronic respiratory diseases are mainly manifested in people over 55 years of age.

Also risk factors include:

diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2;
alcoholism;
overwork;
frequent stress;
cancers;
AIDS.

In hospital-acquired pneumonia, the risk factor includes:

artificial ventilation of the lungs;
earlier time after the surgical intervention;
dysbacteriosis.

Rare additional causes are:

causes of risk in the framework of pneumonia of the aspiration type;
long loss of reason;
seizures that are associated with spasms and muscle contractions;
diseases of the central nervous system, neurological ailments.

Symptoms of a bacterial infection of the lungs

The clinical picture and the severity of the development of pneumonia are determined by the type of infection, the volume of infection, the age category and the state of health in general.

Specialists often distinguish 2 types of respiratory damage (typical and atypical form) based on symptoms and a symptom complex. This makes it possible to determine the type of bacteria, the duration of the disease, and the optimal treatment.

The standard variant of the pathology is a sign of an unexpected fever, which is characterized by fluctuations in body temperature throughout the day (5-10 degrees). Also, the patient has a cough, which has mucous purulent or rusty sputum. There are sensations of pain in the sternum, chills occur, the skin becomes pale.

Patients complain of general weakness in the body, severe malaise. It can be headaches, shortness of breath, prolonged loss of appetite, weight loss.

With a disease of bacterial pneumonia, symptoms can manifest as:

tachycardia;
arrhythmias;
hypotension;
renal and cardiac failure.

A very common and only symptom of bacterial pneumonia is unbearable weakness. For this reason, patients rarely go to the doctor with such a symptom, and the disease develops at this time and passes to a more serious stage, which is difficult to treat.

In children, symptoms of bacterial pneumonia develop from problems in the nasopharynx. The inflammatory process is fast compared to adults. Baby signs include:

a rapid increase in temperature;
frequent breathing;
inability to breathe in and out normally;
discomfort in the abdomen;
possible vomiting.

Bacterial pneumonia is characterized by complications after a cold, flu. Often the disease leads to the following complications:

sepsis;
purulent pleurisy;
meningitis;
myocarditis;
respiratory failure;
lung abscess.

How to treat the disease?

To diagnose the disease, auscultation is performed, an x-ray is prescribed, possibly a bronchoscopy. Research is a prerequisite; blood with leukoformula.

Treatment of bacterial lung disease is prescribed based on the severity, and takes place on an outpatient basis or in a hospital, if necessary, in the IT department.

With pneumonia, when an illness caused by bacteria, antibiotic therapy is prescribed. The selection of antibacterial agents will depend on the age category of the patient, the presence of chronic diseases, smoking, drinking alcohol and taking medications.

Bacterial disease is treated with the following antibiotics:

aminopenicillins;
macrolides;
cephalosporins in combination with drugs for the destruction of microbes.

If pneumonia is a community-acquired form with a mild course, drugs are prescribed orally and intramuscularly. For the severe development of the disease is characterized by the introduction of drugs intravenously. Treatment takes 14 days.

When inflammation is caused by staphylococci, enterobacteria, legionella, a long course of therapy is required, which is 14-20 days.

In case of bacterial pneumonia of aspiration and hospital forms, fluoroquinolones, carbapenems, combinations with aminoglycosides, lincosamides, metronidazole are additionally prescribed.

Detoxification, immunotherapy will be required if there are complicated cases of the disease. Also, you can not do without the correction of microcirculatory changes, dysproteinemia, oxygen therapy.

To avoid signs of dehydration, patients will need to drink enough fluids. This will help the body fight bacteria. Medicines that relieve inflammation will help overcome hyperthermia.

Acetaminophen is paracetamol.
Ibuprofen - Nurofen, Advil.

Also may be assigned:

analgesics;
glucocorticoids.
heart remedies.

In case of abscess formation, sanation bronchoscopy is prescribed, using solutions of antiseptics, antibiotics, mucolytics.

During therapy and after recovery, patients are advised not to be in places where people smoke. Tobacco smoke inhibits the body's ability to fight infection, making the recovery process slow.

The prognosis of lung disease is characterized by the severity of the course, the adequacy of antibiotic therapy. Mortality of patients reaches 9%.

Not really

You are an active person who cares and thinks about your respiratory system and health in general, continue to play sports, lead a healthy lifestyle, and your body will delight you throughout your life, and no bronchitis will bother you. But do not forget to undergo examinations on time, maintain your immunity, this is very important, do not overcool, avoid severe physical and severe emotional overload.

It's time to start thinking about what you're doing wrong...

You are at risk, you should think about your lifestyle and start taking care of yourself. Physical education is a must, or even better start playing sports, choose the sport that you like best and turn it into a hobby (dancing, biking, gym or just try to walk more). Do not forget to treat colds and flu in time, they can lead to complications in the lungs. Be sure to work with your immunity, temper yourself, be in nature and fresh air as often as possible. Do not forget to undergo scheduled annual examinations, it is much easier to treat lung diseases in the initial stages than in a neglected form. Avoid emotional and physical overload, smoking or contact with smokers, if possible, exclude or minimize.

It's time to sound the alarm! In your case, the likelihood of getting pneumonia is huge!

You are completely irresponsible about your health, thereby destroying the work of your lungs and bronchi, pity them! If you want to live long, you need to radically change your whole attitude towards the body. First of all, go through an examination with specialists such as a therapist and a pulmonologist, you need to take drastic measures, otherwise everything may end badly for you. Follow all the recommendations of doctors, radically change your life, it may be worth changing your job or even your place of residence, absolutely eliminate smoking and alcohol from your life, and keep contact with people who have such addictions to a minimum, harden, strengthen your immunity, as much as possible be outdoors more often. Avoid emotional and physical overload. Completely exclude all aggressive products from everyday use, replace them with natural, natural products. Do not forget to do wet cleaning and airing the room at home.

The inflammatory process caused by the action of bacteria on the lung tissue is called bacterial pneumonia. Pathology includes many diseases that are diverse in origin, development and characteristics.

INTERESTING FACT

The clinical picture of pneumonia was described in detail in the works of many medical scientists of the past, including Hippocrates. At the same time, a significant breakthrough in the treatment of the disease occurred only after the discovery and use of penicillin since the late 40s of the 20th century.

Today, bacterial pneumonia, in the vast majority of cases, is well treated with antibiotics. At the same time, only 30% of children in the world with this disease receive the necessary treatment.

symptoms:

occurs most often in children from 5 years of age and persons under 35 years of age;
may be a variant of neonatal pneumonia;
the disease is preceded by damage to the upper respiratory tract (runny nose, sore throat, redness of the throat, etc.);
the beginning is gradual;
weakness - moderate;
cough - prolonged, paroxysmal, with a small amount of viscous sputum;
dry wheezing;
hard breathing;
the temperature is first subfebrile, then, for about a week, it rises to 39-40 degrees, decreases again after another week, after which it remains subfebrile for a long time;
pain in the chest that worsens with breathing;
in about 20% of episodes, it is not heard and is diagnosed only according to radiography.

Until recently, it was customary to distinguish between acute pneumonia and chronic. Now they are moving away from such a division, considering any inflammation of the lungs as acute.

By severity:

mild, can be treated on an outpatient basis;
severe requiring hospitalization.

By clinical course and morphological features distinguish between acute and chronic pneumonia.

According to the conditions of development:

community (also called outpatient / home), acquired and developed outside the territory of the medical institution;
hospital (otherwise nosocomial / nosocomial), acquired and developing in a hospital or other similar medical institution;
aspiration caused by foreign masses infected with bacteria entering the lungs (for example, with vomiting, inhalation of a foreign body, etc.);
in persons with severe immunodeficiency states (HIV infection, other acquired or congenital immunodeficiency).

By type of exciter:

pneumococcal;
hemophilic;
staphylococcal;
mycoplasma;
chlamydia, etc.

The last two are not always classified as bacterial pneumonias, but are considered separately due to the specific characteristics of the microorganisms.

By type of injury:

focal, with the formation of foci of inflammation of various shapes and sizes;
drain, when the foci merge into larger ones;
segmental, with damage to the lung segment (monosegmental, polysegmental, etc.);
lobar (for example, croupous), affecting the entire lobe of the lung;
total, with distribution to all lungs;
interstitial, when the connective tissue of the lungs directly becomes inflamed (the partition between the alveoli - the pulmonary vesicles).

Inflammation can be one lung or both (one-sided, two-sided). When making a diagnosis, the localization of the lesion is often indicated (radical, upper lobe, etc.).

In addition to the usual development, the disease sometimes takes a protracted course.

SYMPTOMS OF bacterial pneumonia

The clinical manifestations of pneumonia vary widely depending on the pathogen.

Symptoms of some types of pathology, depending on the pathogen: pneumococcal, hemophilic, staphylococcal, microplasma, chlamydial.

IMPORTANT TO DIFFERENT FROM

pneumonia caused by other pathogens (viruses, fungi, protozoa);
tuberculosis;
lung infarction;
obliterating bronchiolitis (obstruction of bronchioles - the smallest branches of the bronchial tree);
contusion of the lungs;
pulmonary vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels);
acute sarcoidosis (formation in the lungs of granulomas - nodular formations);
lung tumors, etc.

DIAGNOSIS of bacterial pneumonia

Examination for clinical symptoms (fever, cough with sputum, etc.).
Listening to the lungs for localized wheezing and changes in percussion (audible when tapped) sound.
Laboratory studies (clinical blood test, if necessary - biochemical; sputum culture in some cases, etc.).
Radiography of the lungs (in one or two projections).

TREATMENT of bacterial pneumonia

FIRST AID

The appearance of signs of bacterial pneumonia is a clear indication for going to the doctor.

Treatment of bacterial pneumonia is mainly based on the use of antibacterial agents. The duration of this type of therapy is determined by the severity of the disease, the general health of the patient, the type of drug.

Antibiotics in the established diagnosis of uncomplicated pneumonia are prescribed without waiting for the results of sputum culture, and often without conducting this study. Treatment can be carried out both on an outpatient basis and in a hospital if necessary (in young children, pregnant women, patients with chronic diseases / with immunodeficiency states, etc.).

The first-line drug of choice is antibiotics of the penicillin or macrolide group (the latter are especially active against atypical pathogens - mycoplasmas, chlamydia). In the absence of an effect (improvement of the general condition, decrease in temperature), the drug is replaced within 2 to 3 days, while simultaneously conducting a study on the sensitivity of microorganisms as needed. Cephalosporin antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, etc., as well as a combination of representatives of different groups can also be prescribed.

Antibiotics are taken orally (through the mouth), in severe cases in hospital conditions, it is allowed to use injectable (intramuscular, intravenous) forms of drugs initially with subsequent replacement with oral ones.

The duration of antibiotic treatment for non-severe pneumonia is about 10 days, for mycoplasmal / chlamydial pneumonia - about 2 weeks, for staphylococcal pneumonia - up to 21 days.

At the same time can be assigned:

sulfa drugs (in rare cases, they also act as an alternative to antibiotics);
expectorants and expectorants;
oxygen therapy (treatment with oxygen) for respiratory failure;
drainage massage (facilitating the discharge of sputum);
breathing exercises;
corticosteroids (to relieve severe inflammation);
physiotherapy (electrophoresis, UHF / microwave - exposure to ultrahigh-frequency / superhigh-frequency electromagnetic fields, etc.).

Surgical intervention is resorted to with the development of purulent complications - pulmonary abscess, pleural empyema.

During pregnancy this pathology is not an indication for interruption. Antibiotics of the penicillin group, approved for use in this condition, are prescribed.

In children treatment is carried out according to general principles, taking into account the greater prevalence of mycoplasmal / chlamydial forms in this category of patients. The latter are well treated with macrolide antibiotics.

refuse antibiotic treatment;
experience physical activity;
use traditional medicine without the permission of a doctor.

FOLK REMEDIES

The effectiveness of therapy for bacterial pneumonia is determined by the adequacy of the prescription of antibiotics. Folk remedies can only act as ancillary. The content in herbal preparations of a huge number of substances with different biological activity causes a high risk of undesirable effects. That is why before resorting to the help of traditional medicine, it is important to consult with a supervising doctor.

Popular antipyretics:

infusion of berries or raspberry leaves;
Tea with lemon;
wiping with water, alcohol or acetic solutions (in children, only water wiping or wrappings are allowed!).

Liquefies mucus and facilitates its excretion:

onion juice with honey;
infusion of oat grains with garlic;
black radish juice with honey;
milk decoction of figs.

Interesting! Rubbing with animal fat has been used since ancient times to treat severe pneumonia that occurs without fever. It was noticed that such a procedure helped to raise the temperature somewhat (which, according to modern explanations, stimulated the body's defenses) and increased the patient's chance of recovery.

CAUSES AND MECHANISM OF DEVELOPMENT OF bacterial pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia can be an independent disease, but more often it develops against the background of an already existing pathology (ARVI, chronic bronchopulmonary disease, etc.).

It has been practically established that in 50% of episodes the disease is caused by pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) - a bacterium that looks like two glued balls. Especially often this pathogen causes pneumonia in children.

Hemophilus influenzae (Haemophilus influenzae) is responsible for the development of pathology in 10 - 20% of cases.

Infection is also possible:

rod-shaped legionella (Legionella pneumophila);
causing atypical forms of pneumonia intracellular mycoplasma (Mycoplasma pneumoniae) and chlamydia (Chlamydia pneumoniae);
staphylococcus - a representative of a group of bacteria of a spherical shape;
Klebsiella (Klebsiella pneumoniae);
coli;
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc.

In the vast majority of cases, infection of the lung tissue is carried out bronchogenically - by inhalation of the contents of the oropharynx or an airborne mixture containing bacteria. It is also possible to bring the pathogen into the area of inflammation with blood and / or lymph flow from neighboring or distant infectious foci (for example, with a hepatic abscess).

Contribute to the development of the disease:

transferred in the recent past ARVI;
chronic diseases of the lungs and bronchi (COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, etc.);
immunodeficiency states (primary, secondary);
pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
kidney failure;
undergoing therapy on a ventilator;
conducted bronchoscopy - examination of the bronchi using an optical system;
postoperative early period;
alcoholism;
smoking;
diabetes;
splenectomy;
pathology of the central nervous system;
reflux esophagitis;
chest injury, etc.

HOW TO PREVENT?

Measures to prevent bacterial pneumonia include:

adequate treatment of viral diseases;
identification and elimination of foci of chronic infection;
normalization of the ecological situation in the area of residence;
hardening;
sufficient exposure to fresh air;
normalization of work and rest regimes;
balanced diet;
vaccination against pneumococcal and hemophilic infections.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

Pulmonary abscess - the formation of a purulent cavity in the lung.
Pleural empyema - accumulation of pus in the space between the pleura (the membranes surrounding the lungs).
Gangrene of the lung is the death of lung tissue.
Pulmonary edema.
Acute respiratory failure.
Obstruction (difficulty in patency) of the airways.
Pleurisy - inflammation of the pleura.
Pericarditis - inflammation of the outer lining of the heart.
Endocarditis - inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.
Meningitis - meninges inflammation.
Sepsis (a serious prognosis of an infectious blood disease), etc.

HISTORICAL REFERENCE

Term "pneumonia" comes from the Greek word "pneumon", which means "lungs".

The predominant age for this disease is the period up to 20 years (approximately 522 episodes are diagnosed per 100,000 population in children under 14 years old and 236 in adolescents 15-17 years old) and over 60 years old. The total number of episodes of pneumonia per year per 100 thousand population:

out-of-hospital - 1200;
hospital - 800.

Pneumonia remains the main infectious cause of childhood mortality: 15% of all deceased children under the age of 5 died due to this pathology.

Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia are associated with the occurrence of respiratory failure.

Thanks to the methods of treatment, it is possible to get rid of this disease in the early stages without consequences. The basis of treatment is antibiotic therapy.

find the answer

Is there any problem? Enter in the form "Symptom" or "Name of the disease" press Enter and you will find out all the treatment of this problem or disease.

Symptoms in adults

The bacterial form of pneumonia refers to acute infectious diseases. This is an inflammation of the lung tissue that increases if it is not stopped. This disease is caused by microbes entering the body.

Symptoms:

severe fever;
Intoxication of the body;
Respiratory failure.

This form ranks first in the number of cases among other forms of pneumonia. Young children and older people over 70 are more likely to get sick.

The course of the disease is characterized by the rapid development of complications, the most dangerous of which is respiratory failure.

Frequent symptoms of the disease:

Loss of appetite;
Severe weakness, lethargy;
Heat;
Muscle pain;
Dyspnea;
Fever;
Pain in the chest area that increases with inhalation;
Pallor;
Violent cough with an abundance of sputum, which contains pus;
Poor functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
Increased heart rate;
Moist cough;
Wheezing when inhaling;
Deep breathing.

What is the viral form of the disease

It is not easy to distinguish between bacterial pneumonia and viral pneumonia, but if you use a few simple facts, the differences become visible:

Bacterial develops longer and proceeds sluggishly. It is difficult to single out the moment of infection. You can see a pronounced lesion. The patient's temperature rises within 38 degrees.
Bacterial is characterized by the presence of pus in the sputum, which has a yellow or greenish tint. The viral form is characterized by watery sputum without color.
A bacterial infection can develop both independently and against the background of other diseases or complications. It can combine with viruses that reduce the body's defense function, so the symptoms worsen significantly. If the patient has influenza pneumonia of the primary form, then in the first days one can observe a dry cough, which gradually becomes wet, with an abundance of sputum with blood. The secondary form - bacterial - often appears after a few days. It is characterized by purulent sputum.
If pus is released, then this indicates a bacterial form or a mixed one.
For the treatment of viral and bacterial varieties, different drugs, antibiotics are used.

Klebsiella, other causative agents of pathology

The appearance of pneumonia is provoked by many factors:

Causative agents of anthrax, salmonellosis, whooping cough.
Severe hypothermia of the body, in which all the bacteria that live on the mucous membranes or upper respiratory tract are activated.
The patient has bad habits that lead to weakened immunity. This becomes the beginning of problems with the heart and lungs. Violation of the protective function significantly weakens the body, which leads to weak resistance to bacteria.

Such factors can provoke the development of the disease individually or together.

If there are several factors of the disease, then the symptoms will be expressed more clearly.

The causative agents of the disease are:

Pneumococci;
Streptococci;
meningococci;
Klebsiella;
Legionella;
Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
Haemophilus influenzae;
Staphylococci;
Escherichia coli.

The most common bacteria that cause community-acquired pneumonia are:

Pneumococcus. They become the cause more often than others. These bacteria are located in the human nasopharynx, with a decrease in the protective function of the body, they enter the lungs when inhaled, where they begin to actively develop. In addition to the lungs, these microorganisms can enter the bloodstream from a wound or be introduced along with an infection.
Klebsiella. The bacterium is found in the digestive tract, in the human mouth, on its skin. It affects only those who have reduced immunity.
Haemophilus influenzae. It is located in the upper respiratory tract on the epithelium, until the immunity is reduced, it does not cause any harm to the body. Haemophilus influenzae is one of the most common pathogens.
Staphylococcus aureus. It affects more often drug addicts who use drugs intravenously, young children and people with chronic diseases. Every fourth carries this pathogen on the skin, in the intestines or throat.

Is this disease contagious

You can get infected, a sick person spreads dangerous bacteria that caused inflammation. But it is not a fact that a person whose body has got such bacteria will become infected with pneumonia.

Many pathogens can also cause inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

Whether a person becomes infected or not depends entirely on the level of his immunity. If it is strong, then the disease will pass by, if it is weak, it can provoke a number of more serious problems and complications.

You can get infected from yourself, because it is the carrier of most of the pathogens of this disease, which in an inactive form cannot harm the body.

As soon as the level of his protective function decreases, then he has a risk of getting sick without contact with other sick people.

The disease appears after the pathogenic microflora (bacteria) enters the body. They can get to a person through the carrier or through household items.

Video

Watch a video about the symptoms and treatment of bacterial pneumonia:

Established pathogenesis of the disease

An infection can get in two ways:

hematogenous;
Lymphogenic;
Bronchogenic.

If the disease is of bronchogenic origin, then this leads to the formation of peribronchial infiltrates. And hematogenous - to the development of interstitial foci of inflammation.

More often, microorganisms enter the lungs by the bronchogenic route due to:

Inhalation of microbes from the environment;
Ingestion through aspiration;
Migration from the upper respiratory tract to the lower:
Ingestion during medical operations or mechanical ventilation.

The hematogenous route, that is, the entry of bacteria through the blood, is much less common.

This can happen for reasons such as:

Intrauterine infection;
Intravenous infection (drug addiction);
septic processes.

The lymphogenous route of penetration of bacteria is almost never found. After the entry of hostile microflora, bacteria are fixed and actively multiply, which leads to the development of the initial stage of the disease - bronchitis or bronchiolitis.

When microorganisms begin to spread outside the bronchioles, this leads to inflammation. Then in the lungs there are foci of atelectasis due to impaired bronchial patency.

To inhale oxygen, get rid of obstacles, the body causes a cough, but this leads to the spread of microorganisms throughout the body, which provokes the formation of new foci of inflammation. As a result, patients develop respiratory failure caused by a lack of oxygen, if the form of the disease is severe, then this leads to disruption of the heart.

Acute, unspecified form

The acute form of pneumonia is characterized by complication of symptoms.

The patient has:

Isolation of purulent brown sputum or sputum with blood when coughing;
Chest pain that gets worse when you breathe in
The appearance of shortness of breath even at rest;
Temperature increase;
Rave;
Confusion of consciousness.

Acute pneumonia responds well to treatment. The prognosis is favorable, but only if the patient asked for help in time, carefully followed all the instructions of the attending physician.

If the acute form is not treated on time, this leads to serious complications that affect the health of the whole organism, and can cause death.

Sometimes you can meet a bacterial form of pneumonia without a specified pathogen. Usually, for the treatment of this type, a thorough diagnosis is used, tests are carried out that will help identify individual reactions to one or another type of drug.

With such a disease, it is impossible to identify the main pathogen, it is treated with general drugs.

After a few days, the reaction of the body is served, if it is positive, the patient's condition improves, then they continue to use the selected drug in combination with other medicines. If there is no reaction, then they are looking for another remedy that will more effectively fight inflammation.

Diagnostic methods

To diagnose pneumonia, several different methods are used to help rule out other similar diseases.

Diagnostic methods:

Examination by a doctor. During the examination, you can notice the pallor of the skin, heavy, rapid breathing, cyanosis. During palpation, an increase in voice trembling at the site of lung damage is noticeable.
Percussion. You may notice dullness or a significant shortening of the lung sound.
Auscultation. Heavy breathing or bronchial breathing, increased bronchophony, wheezing during inhalation and exhalation. With exacerbation, pleural friction is heard.
Leukocytosis. The formula has a significant shift to the left, a significant increase in ESR, the appearance of lymphopenia, C-reactive protein.
X-ray. Protracted foci of inflammation, destruction of lung tissue are noticeable. Occasionally, a pleural effusion may be seen.
Microscopy. This study is aimed at identifying the pathogen. To help identify the pathogen, sputum culture, the study of bronchial waters help.
FDB. It is carried out if the patient has shortness of breath or lung pathology.
Examination of arterial blood for the composition of gases. It is carried out with a complicated course, to determine the level of hypercapnia and hypoxemia.
Lab tests. The blood is examined for the presence of deviations from the norm, an analysis of the pleural effusion is performed.
MRI, CT. They are carried out to exclude other diseases with similar symptoms, tests performed.

Effective treatment

The type of treatment can be determined only by the severity of the course of the disease. If it is mild, then the doctor prescribes outpatient treatment.

When the fever intensifies, the temperature rises, bed rest, plenty of fluids, wholesome food rich in vitamins are recommended.

The duration of treatment and the complete recovery of the patient depends on the pathogen, severity, and individual characteristics. The mild form is treated for 10-14 days, the severe form is treated within a month.

For the treatment of bacterial pneumonia, antibacterial drugs are used, depending on the individual reactions of the patient's body or the type of pathogen.

If the patient has an aspiration or hospital form, then for treatment they additionally prescribe:

Carbapenems;
Lincosamides;
Fluoroquinolones;
Aminoglycosides;
Metronidazole.

With the complication of the disease, it is necessary to use more effective methods of treatment, they include:

Immunotherapy;
Detoxification therapy;
oxygen therapy;
Correction of microcirculatory disorders.

To remove painful, dangerous symptoms, they take drugs that relieve fever, restore heart rhythm, glucose, analgesics.

When a patient develops a lung abscess, a bronchoscopy is performed, using antiseptics and antibiotics. It is possible to use mucolytic agents.

For effective recovery, the patient is prescribed:

Physiotherapy;
chest massage;
Breathing exercises.

After the course of treatment, in order to consolidate the result, improve the state of health, restore the body's strength, increase the level of immunity, sanitary-resort treatment is necessary. To avoid the return of the disease, it is recommended to regularly visit a pulmonologist.

Possible consequences and complications

Bacterial pneumonia is considered a dangerous disease that can even lead to death, not to mention other unpleasant, even dangerous consequences for the body.

If you do not treat the disease or seek help late, then complications may occur:

Acute respiratory failure;
Pulmonary edema;
Abscess;
Gangrene of the lung;
Meningitis;
bacteremia;
Pleural effusion;
Pericarditis;
Hepatitis;
Respiratory distress syndrome;
Pleural empyema;
Heart failure;
Sepsis;
Nephritis.

The disease can cause serious harm to the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, digestion, and central nervous system.

It affects the respiratory organs, the body does not receive enough oxygen, which is necessary for the full functioning of all organs and systems.

The lack of oxygen leads to a deterioration in the performance of the brain.

If you seek help from a doctor when the first alarming symptoms appear, conduct high-quality, productive treatment, then the prognosis is favorable. It is possible to completely cure bacterial pneumonia if you do not start the disease in the early stages.

Bacterial pneumonia - infection of the lungs with certain bacteria, such as Haemophilus influenzae or pneumococcus, but if other viral diseases are present in the body, this virus can become the causative agent. Accompanied by symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, cough with sputum, pain in the chest. Diagnosis is possible with the help of an x-ray, blood tests and sowing of sputum. Treatment is with antibiotics.

The greatest risk group is children under five years of age and older people over 75. This type is characterized by the rapid development of complications, the most common of which is, as well as a high probability of mortality. The main routes of infection are airborne or through the bloodstream in the presence of foci of infection in other parts of the body.

Among other infectious and bacterial diseases, pneumonia confidently holds the first place, since about a thousand people per 100 thousand of the population are affected by this disease.

Etiology

The main causes of bacterial pneumonia are harmful microorganisms, but there are several factors that contribute to the manifestation of this disease:

many years of smoking experience in adults, passive smoking in children;
various chronic lung diseases;
weak immunity is one of the most common factors for the appearance of this type of disease in children;
age category. Notably, bacterial pneumonia only affects young children and the elderly. In the middle age group, such a disease can only be chronic, i.e., appeared due to incorrect or incomplete treatment of the acute form in childhood;
alcohol abuse;
prolonged exposure to stressful situations;
lack of vitamins in the body;
severe overwork;
environmental pollution or living near factories;
complications from surgery;
prolonged immobilization;
congenital pathologies of the structure or functioning of the abdominal organs.

Varieties

Depending on the location of the lesion, bacterial pneumonia can be:

focal - the infection affects only some parts of the lung tissues;
lobar - based on the name, the infection spreads to a whole lobe of the organ. Often the lower parts of the lungs are affected;
unilateral;
bilateral.

Also, the disease has a classification according to the microorganism that became the causative agent of the disease. Thus, pneumonia happens:

pneumococcal;
staphylococcal;
streptococcal;
meningococcal;
caused by Haemophilus influenzae or Escherichia coli and other less common bacteria.

According to the place of infection, the disease is divided into:

home or community-acquired - infection did not occur in stationary conditions;
nosocomial - the disease occurs on the second or third day of stay in a medical institution.

In addition, viral-bacterial pneumonia can occur in the following forms:

light;
moderate;
heavy;
complicated, which is characterized by a long course.

With untimely or improper treatment in children, it becomes chronic in adults.

Symptoms

Viral-bacterial pneumonia is characterized by an intense manifestation of symptoms, which distinguishes it from other types of lung damage. Thus, the main signs of this disease are:

a sharp increase in body temperature, often turning into a fever;
frequent and deep breathing;
dyspnea;
wheezing when inhaling;
pallor of the skin;
a strong cough with sputum, often transparent, but since bacteria are the causative agents, it may be mixed with purulent fluid;
decreased or complete lack of appetite;
pain in the chest;
weakness and exhaustion;
muscle pain;
change in heart rate;
indigestion.

If you do not seek help from specialists in time and do not start treatment, viral-bacterial pneumonia can cause the death of the patient.

Complications

Ignoring the symptoms of the disease very often leads to the following complications:

or ;
infectious-toxic shock;
inflammation of the brain or spinal cord;
the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the myocardium;
acute respiratory failure, which can lead to;
inflammation of the pleura.

Since viral-bacterial pneumonia is often diagnosed in children and the elderly, it is necessary to consult a doctor at the first manifestation of symptoms in them, who will prescribe an effective treatment.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures of the viral-bacterial type of the disease consist of the following set of actions:

examination and listening to the patient, to determine the noise in the lungs;
holding and;
radiography of the lungs in several projections - direct and lateral, which will determine the affected areas and the degree of spread of inflammation;
a study of sputum secreted by coughing will help to establish which microorganism caused the onset of the disease;
culture of secretions to determine the most effective antimicrobial treatment;
studying the functioning of external respiration;
MRI and;
blood cultures (performed to determine the presence or absence of bacteria in the patient's blood).

During the diagnosis, it is necessary to exclude some diseases, the symptoms of which are very similar to those of viral-bacterial pneumonia, among them:

oncological neoplasms;
lack of air in the tissues of the lung;
stagnant nature;
thrombus formation in the lung.

Treatment

Therapy of viral-bacterial pneumonia depends entirely on the stage of the disease. So, with a mild form of leakage, the following treatment is prescribed:

providing the patient with bed rest;
drinking a large amount of liquid, it is best if it is ordinary purified water without gas;
light and fast digestible food;
treatment with antimicrobial drugs is prescribed depending on which virus served as the causative agent. With a mild course, such drugs can be taken orally, and with a complicated one, by injection. The course of treatment should not exceed two weeks, but in some cases longer therapy may be needed - up to three weeks.

With a complicated course of viral-bacterial pneumonia, it is necessary:

strengthen the immune system with medications;
carry out detoxification;
start oxygen treatment. Oxygen therapy starts processes in the body that increase the efficiency of the lungs. But the excessive influence of such therapy can lead to oxygen starvation;
take antipyretic drugs;
treatment with aerosols for bronchial lesions.

The prognosis of this viral-bacterial disease is quite positive, but only in cases where therapy was started at an early stage. However, about 30% of elderly patients die. With a severe form and the appearance of consequences, mortality occurs in almost half of the cases, both in children and in older people.

Prevention

In order for viral-bacterial pneumonia not to become a problem, you must follow simple rules:

stop smoking and restrict children from passive smoking;
do not drink alcohol-containing and low-alcohol drinks;
food should be enriched with vitamins and nutrients;
exercise regularly;
strengthen the immunity of the child by hardening;
adhere to a rational daily routine, leave enough time for rest;
after the street, always wash your hands, it is especially important to teach this to children;
undergo a preventive examination at the clinic several times a year;
at the first symptoms, especially in children, you should immediately seek help from a specialist.

It is best if treatment and prevention will take place in a sanatorium-resort environment.

Is everything correct in the article from a medical point of view?

Answer only if you have proven medical knowledge

Diseases with similar symptoms:

Inflammation of the lungs (officially pneumonia) is an inflammatory process in one or both respiratory organs, which is usually infectious in nature and is caused by various viruses, bacteria and fungi. In ancient times, this disease was considered one of the most dangerous, and although modern treatments allow you to quickly and without consequences get rid of the infection, the disease has not lost its relevance. According to official figures, in our country every year about a million people suffer from pneumonia in one form or another.