Respiratory Case Study Essay

Respiratory Case Study
1. Differentiate between hospital acquired (nosocomial) and community acquired pneumonia.
Nosocomial pneumonia is acquired during a hospital stay. It happens when a patient is admitted into the hospital with a medical diagnosis that they are hoping to be treated for and contract the infection of pneumonia through the spread of germs. “Nosocomial pneumonia (NP) clinically presents more than seven days after hospitalization with new fever, pulmonary infiltrates, and leukocytosis. Nosocomial pneumonia is a common nosocomial bacterial infection and is most prevalent in medical and surgical intensive care units. The most common pathogens associated with NP are: P aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and S marcescens (Medscape, 2015). Whereas community acquired pneumonia is contracted in the community. “Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the most common infectious diseases and is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. CAP is usually acquired via inhalation or aspiration of pulmonary pathogenic organisms into a lung segment or lobe” (Medscape, 2015). The most common organisms involved in causing CAP are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, and Moraxella catarrhalis.
2. Discuss the pathophysiology of pneumonia.
I was unaware that the vaccines of pneumococcal, Haemophilus influenza type b, pertussis, varicella, measles, and influenza all prevent infections that can lead to pneumonia. I thought that the only vaccination and prevention for pneumonia was the pneumococcal vaccine. I also learned that there are many different strains of pneumonia, resulting from various infectious organisms. I thought that there was only one strain of pneumonia, that could be contracted in different ways. I’m glad this assignment broadened my pneumonia