Hospital-acquired pneumonia (patient information): Difference between revisions
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{{CMG}}; '''Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:{{SM}}''' | {{CMG}}; '''Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:{{SM}}''' | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Hospital-acquired pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that occurs during a hospital stay. This type of pneumonia can be very severe. Sometimes it can be fatal. | Hospital-acquired [[pneumonia]] is an [[infection]] of the [[lungs]] that occurs during a hospital stay. This type of pneumonia can be very severe. Sometimes it can be fatal. | ||
==What are the symptoms of | ==What are the symptoms of Hospital-acquired pneumonia?== | ||
In an elderly person, the first sign of hospital-acquired pneumonia may be mental changes or confusion. Other symptoms are: | In an elderly person, the first sign of hospital-acquired pneumonia may be [[mental]] changes or [[confusion.]] Other symptoms are: | ||
*A cough that may produce mucus-like, greenish, or pus-like phlegm (sputum) | *A cough that may produce [[mucus]]-like, greenish, or pus-like [[phlegm ]](sputum) | ||
*Fever and chills | *[[Fever]] and [[chills]] | ||
*General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise) | *General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise) | ||
*Loss of appetite | *Loss of [[appetite]] | ||
*Nausea and vomiting | *[[Nausea]] and [[vomiting]] | ||
*Sharp chest pain that gets worse with deep breathing or coughing | *Sharp chest [[pain]] that gets worse with deep breathing or [[coughing]] | ||
*Shortness of breath | *Shortness of breath | ||
==What causes | ==What causes Hospital-acquired pneumonia?== | ||
Pneumonia is a common illness. It is caused by many different germs. Hospital-acquired pneumonia tends to be more serious than other lung infections because: | Pneumonia is a common illness. It is caused by many different [[germs]]. Hospital-acquired pneumonia tends to be more serious than other lung infections because: | ||
*Patients in the hospital are often very sick and cannot fight off germs. | *Patients in the hospital are often very [[sick]] and cannot fight off germs. | ||
*The types of germs present in a hospital are often more dangerous than those encountered in the community. | *The types of germs present in a hospital are often more dangerous than those encountered in the community. | ||
Hospital-acquired pneumonia occurs more often in patients who are using a respirator machine to help them breathe. This machine is also called a ventilator. This type of pneumonia is known as ventilator-associated pneumonia.Hospital-acquired pneumonia can also be spread by health care workers, who can pass germs from their hands or clothes from one patient to another. That is why hand-washing, wearing gowns, and using other safety measures is so important in the hospital. | Hospital-acquired pneumonia occurs more often in patients who are using a [[respirator machine]] to help them breathe. This machine is also called a [[ventilator]]. This type of pneumonia is known as ventilator-associated pneumonia.Hospital-acquired pneumonia can also be spread by health care workers, who can pass germs from their hands or clothes from one patient to another. That is why [[hand-washing]], wearing [[gowns]], and using other safety measures is so important in the hospital. | ||
Patients who are more prone to getting hospital-acquired pneumonia: | Patients who are more prone to getting hospital-acquired pneumonia: | ||
*Are alcoholic | *Are [[alcoholic]] | ||
*Have had chest surgery or other major surgery | *Have had chest [[surgery]] or other major surgery | ||
*Have a weak immune system from cancer treatment, certain medicines, or severe wounds | *Have a weak [[immune system]] from [[cancer]] treatment, certain medicines, or severe wounds | ||
*Have long-term (chronic) lung disease | *Have long-term (chronic) lung disease | ||
*Breathe saliva or food into their lungs as a result of not being fully alert or problems swallowing | *Breathe [[saliva]] or food into their lungs as a result of not being fully alert or problems swallowing | ||
*Are older | *Are older | ||
== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
Tests to check for hospital-acquired pneumonia may include: | |||
*Arterial blood gases, to measure oxygen levels in the blood | |||
*[[Blood cultures]], to see if the infection has spread to the blood | |||
*[[Chest x-ray]] or [[CT scan]], to check the lungs | |||
*Complete blood count (CBC) | |||
*[[Pulse]] oximetry, to measure oxygen levels in the blood | |||
*[[Sputum culture]] or [[sputum gram stain]], to check for what germs are causing the pneumonia | |||
==Treatment options== | ==Treatment options== | ||
==Where to find medical care for | You will receive [[antibiotics]] through your [[veins]] (IV) to treat your lung infection. The antibiotic you are given will fight the germs that are in your [[sputum culture]].You may also receive oxygen to help you breathe better and lung treatments to loosen and remove thick [[mucus]] from your lungs.Patients who have other serious conditions do not recover as well from pneumonia as patients who are not as sick. | ||
==Where to find medical care for Hospital-acquired pneumonia?== | |||
[http://maps.google.com/maps?q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|map+top+hospital+Hospital-acquired pneumonia}}}}&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wlDirections to Hospitals Treating Hospital-acquired pneumonia] | [http://maps.google.com/maps?q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|map+top+hospital+Hospital-acquired pneumonia}}}}&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wlDirections to Hospitals Treating Hospital-acquired pneumonia] | ||
==Prevention== | ==Prevention== | ||
Wash your hands for at least 1 minute, like this: | |||
*Lather up well with warm water and soap. | |||
*Wash the backs and palms of your hands, fingers, between your fingers, and under your nails thoroughly. | |||
*Wash for as long as it takes you to say the alphabet slowly or sing the "Happy Birthday" song 2 times through. | |||
*Dry with a clean paper towel. Also, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the bathroom door. | |||
*After any surgery, you will be asked to take deep [[breaths]] to help keep your lungs open. Follow the advice of your doctor and nurse to help prevent pneumonia. | |||
*Most hospitals have programs to prevent hospital-acquired infections. | |||
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ||
Hospital-acquired pneumonia can be a life-threatening [[illness]]. Long-term [[lung]] damage may occur. | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000146.htm | |||
[[Category:Disease]] | [[Category:Disease]] | ||
[[Category:Pulmonology]] | [[Category:Pulmonology]] | ||
[[Category:Pneumonia|Pneumonia]] | [[Category:Pneumonia|Pneumonia]] | ||
[[Category:Emergency medicine]] | [[Category:Emergency medicine]] | ||
[[Category:Patient information]] | |||
{{WH}} | {{WH}} | ||
{{WS}} | {{WS}} | ||
Latest revision as of 18:02, 18 September 2017
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Hospital-acquired pneumonia |
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Hospital-acquired pneumonia On the Web |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Hospital-acquired pneumonia |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Hospital-acquired pneumonia |
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:Shivali Marketkar, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Hospital-acquired pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that occurs during a hospital stay. This type of pneumonia can be very severe. Sometimes it can be fatal.
What are the symptoms of Hospital-acquired pneumonia?
In an elderly person, the first sign of hospital-acquired pneumonia may be mental changes or confusion. Other symptoms are:
- General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
What causes Hospital-acquired pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a common illness. It is caused by many different germs. Hospital-acquired pneumonia tends to be more serious than other lung infections because:
- Patients in the hospital are often very sick and cannot fight off germs.
- The types of germs present in a hospital are often more dangerous than those encountered in the community.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia occurs more often in patients who are using a respirator machine to help them breathe. This machine is also called a ventilator. This type of pneumonia is known as ventilator-associated pneumonia.Hospital-acquired pneumonia can also be spread by health care workers, who can pass germs from their hands or clothes from one patient to another. That is why hand-washing, wearing gowns, and using other safety measures is so important in the hospital.
Patients who are more prone to getting hospital-acquired pneumonia:
- Are alcoholic
- Have had chest surgery or other major surgery
- Have a weak immune system from cancer treatment, certain medicines, or severe wounds
- Have long-term (chronic) lung disease
- Breathe saliva or food into their lungs as a result of not being fully alert or problems swallowing
- Are older
Diagnosis
Tests to check for hospital-acquired pneumonia may include:
- Arterial blood gases, to measure oxygen levels in the blood
- Blood cultures, to see if the infection has spread to the blood
- Chest x-ray or CT scan, to check the lungs
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Pulse oximetry, to measure oxygen levels in the blood
- Sputum culture or sputum gram stain, to check for what germs are causing the pneumonia
Treatment options
You will receive antibiotics through your veins (IV) to treat your lung infection. The antibiotic you are given will fight the germs that are in your sputum culture.You may also receive oxygen to help you breathe better and lung treatments to loosen and remove thick mucus from your lungs.Patients who have other serious conditions do not recover as well from pneumonia as patients who are not as sick.
Where to find medical care for Hospital-acquired pneumonia?
to Hospitals Treating Hospital-acquired pneumonia
Prevention
Wash your hands for at least 1 minute, like this:
- Lather up well with warm water and soap.
- Wash the backs and palms of your hands, fingers, between your fingers, and under your nails thoroughly.
- Wash for as long as it takes you to say the alphabet slowly or sing the "Happy Birthday" song 2 times through.
- Dry with a clean paper towel. Also, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the bathroom door.
- After any surgery, you will be asked to take deep breaths to help keep your lungs open. Follow the advice of your doctor and nurse to help prevent pneumonia.
- Most hospitals have programs to prevent hospital-acquired infections.
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Hospital-acquired pneumonia can be a life-threatening illness. Long-term lung damage may occur.
Sources
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000146.htm