Pneumonia

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Pneumonia is inflammation of the lung and grouped with the medical lung diseases.

There are various types of pneumonia.

Infectious pnemonia

Anatomical classification of pneumonia

  • Generally, not used by clinicians.
  • Use of the terms without qualification is discouraged... as they do not make explicit the etiology.

Bronchopneumonia

  • Multiple foci of (acute) inflammation involving the bronchi.
  • This is the most common form of (infectious) pneumonia.

Lobar pneumonia

  • Pneumonia that involves a whole lobe.
  • Rarely seen in areas where antibiotic treatments are widely available.

Acute infectious pneumonia

General

  • This is seen by pathologists, in autopsy, from time-to-time.

Most common cause:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae.[1]

The top three community acquired (acute) pneumonia:[2]

  • Streptococcuc pneumonia.
  • Haemophilus influenzae.
  • Moraxella catarrhalis.

Other community acquired pneumonia:[1]

  • S. aureus.
  • Legionaella pneumophila.
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae.
  • Pseudomonas.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia:[1]

  • Gram-negative rods.
  • Staphylococcus aureus.

Radiologic correlate

  • Air space disease.

Gross pathology

  • Consolidation (the lung parenchyma is firm) - best appreciated by running a finger over the cut surface of the lung with a small-to-moderate amount of pressure.

Microscopic

Features:

  • Alveoli packed with PMNs.
  • +/-Clusters of bacteria - small dots or rods.

Image: Normal alveoli & pneumonia (WC).

Stains

  • Gram stain -- to type the bacteria.

Chronic infectious pneumonia

General

Common microorganisms:[1]

Note:

  • All of the later ones are granulomatous.

Microscopic

Features:

Aspiration pneumonia

General

  • Usually seen in the context of a toxin and/or pathology that affects the swallowing and cough reflexes.[3]
  • The microorganisms involved are usually different than in other causes of acute pneumonia.

Gross

  • Right lung > left lung.
    • Right main stem bronchus is more vertical.

Microscopic

Features:

  • +/-Foreign body giant cells.
  • Microorganisms.

Images:

Diffuse lung diseases

  • AKA idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

Histologic pattern:

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson; Aster, Jon (2009). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 711. ISBN 978-1416031215.
  2. Nicolau, D. (Sep 2002). "Clinical and economic implications of antimicrobial resistance for the management of community-acquired respiratory tract infections.". J Antimicrob Chemother 50 Suppl S1: 61-70. PMID 12239229.
  3. Ohrui, T. (Sep 2005). "Preventive strategies for aspiration pneumonia in elderly disabled persons.". Tohoku J Exp Med 207 (1): 3-12. PMID 16082150.