Hospital Acquired Pneumonia Case Study
Hospital Acquired Pneumonia
October 7, 2010
Hospital Acquired Pneumonia
Hospital acquired pneumonia is currently the second most common nosocomial infection in the United States and is associated with high mortality and morbidity (Seymann, 2008). This paper is a case study of a 52 year old female who was in the hospital for a scheduled gastric bypass surgery. During a post-op test she aspirated dye thus beginning the process of her developing nosocomial pneumonia. The patient was discharged only to return to the emergency department the following day presenting with signs and symptoms of pneumonia. This paper will discuss her diagnosis, treatment, risk factors, nursing care, socioeconomic influences, and diagnostic testing.
Primary Medical Diagnosis Ms. G. was admitted to the hospital with the symptoms of shortness of breath, a low oxygen saturation, tachypnea, tachycardia, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, crackles in both right and left lower lobes of the lungs, pain, a low grade fever and was considered a fall risk. Her diagnosis was pneumonia.
Pathophysiology
Pneumonia is an acute inflammation of the lungs that causes the alveoli and bronchioles of the lungs to become clogged with thick exudate (Smeltzer, Bare, Hinkle, & Cheever, 2010). The inflammation can be caused by various organisms, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mycobacterium. A sputum culture is needed to identify the specific causative organism before antibiotics are started. (Smeltzer, et al). Pneumonia occurs when the upper airway fails to prevent infectious particles, irritants, or aspirated irritants from entering the sterile lower respiratory tract, whether from the patient’s own body such as gastric contents or from outside of the body such as aspirated food or some other fluid that enter the sterile lower respiratory tract (Smeltzer, et al). Because of the thick exudate produced, ventilation of carbon dioxide and diffusion of oxygen are impaired (Smeltzer, et
October 7, 2010
Hospital Acquired Pneumonia
Hospital acquired pneumonia is currently the second most common nosocomial infection in the United States and is associated with high mortality and morbidity (Seymann, 2008). This paper is a case study of a 52 year old female who was in the hospital for a scheduled gastric bypass surgery. During a post-op test she aspirated dye thus beginning the process of her developing nosocomial pneumonia. The patient was discharged only to return to the emergency department the following day presenting with signs and symptoms of pneumonia. This paper will discuss her diagnosis, treatment, risk factors, nursing care, socioeconomic influences, and diagnostic testing.
Primary Medical Diagnosis Ms. G. was admitted to the hospital with the symptoms of shortness of breath, a low oxygen saturation, tachypnea, tachycardia, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, crackles in both right and left lower lobes of the lungs, pain, a low grade fever and was considered a fall risk. Her diagnosis was pneumonia.
Pathophysiology
Pneumonia is an acute inflammation of the lungs that causes the alveoli and bronchioles of the lungs to become clogged with thick exudate (Smeltzer, Bare, Hinkle, & Cheever, 2010). The inflammation can be caused by various organisms, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mycobacterium. A sputum culture is needed to identify the specific causative organism before antibiotics are started. (Smeltzer, et al). Pneumonia occurs when the upper airway fails to prevent infectious particles, irritants, or aspirated irritants from entering the sterile lower respiratory tract, whether from the patient’s own body such as gastric contents or from outside of the body such as aspirated food or some other fluid that enter the sterile lower respiratory tract (Smeltzer, et al). Because of the thick exudate produced, ventilation of carbon dioxide and diffusion of oxygen are impaired (Smeltzer, et
References: Ackley, B. J., & Ladwig, G. B. (2008). Nursing diagnosis handbook...an evidence-based guide to planning care. St. Louis: Mosby elsevier. Seymann, G. B. (2008). Health care-associated pneumonia: meeting the clinical challenges. The journal of respiratory diseases , 208-213. Smeltzer, S. C., Bare, B. G., Hinkle, J. L., & Cheever, K. H. (2010). Textbook of medical-surgical nursing (12th edition) . Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Zigmond, J. (2010). Pushing for change. Modern healthcare, 8-9.