Etiology and Risk Factors
This common habit impairs the mucociliary mechanism and increases pneumonia risk.
What is cigarette smoking?
This type of pneumonia begins in the community or within the first 2 days of hospitalization.
What is community‑acquired pneumonia (CAP)?
This first stage of pneumonia involves fluid pouring into alveoli and rapid organism multiplication.
What is congestion?
Classic CAP symptoms include fever, chills, pleuritic chest pain, and this type of cough.
What is a productive cough with purulent sputum?
This imaging test is essential for identifying infiltrates in pneumonia.
What is a chest x‑ray?
This age‑related change decreases cough and epiglottal reflexes, increasing aspiration risk.
What is normal aging?
This type occurs ≥48 hours after admission and is often caused by multidrug‑resistant organisms.
What is hospital‑acquired pneumonia (HAP)?
In this stage, alveoli fill with organisms, neutrophils, RBCs, and fibrin, giving the lung a liver‑like appearance.
What is red hepatization?
Dullness to percussion, increased fremitus, and bronchial breath sounds indicate this finding.
What is lung consolidation?
This lab finding—elevated above normal—indicates infection and inflammation.
What is leukocytosis?
These are the three routes by which organisms reach the lungs.
What are aspiration, inhalation, and hematogenous spread?
Clients with severe protein‑calorie malnutrition or immune deficiencies are at risk for this pneumonia.
What is opportunistic pneumonia?
This stage involves decreased blood flow and consolidation of leukocytes and fibrin.
What is grey hepatization?
This mental status change may be the first sign of pneumonia in older adults.
What is confusion or disorientation?
This complication involves inflammation of the pleura and causes sharp pain with breathing.
What is pleurisy?
Clients receiving this type of therapy are at increased risk for hospital‑acquired pneumonia.
What is immunosuppressive therapy?
This organism is a common cause of CAP and appears as gram‑positive diplococci on sputum stain.
What is Streptococcus pneumoniae?
During this final stage, macrophages process exudate and lung tissue is restored.
What is resolution?
Pink, rusty, green, yellow, or white sputum are all possible findings in this condition.
What is pneumonia?
This complication requires antibiotics and drainage of exudate.
What is empyema?
Loss of consciousness increases the risk for this specific type of pneumonia.
What is aspiration pneumonia?
This opportunistic pathogen causes pneumonia with fever, tachypnea, tachycardia, and hypoxemia.
What is Pneumocystis jiroveci (PCP)?
This pathophysiologic process interferes with lung function during the congestion stage.
What is the spread of infection through the alveoli?
Localized absence of breath sounds may indicate this complication.
What is pleural effusion?
Disorientation or somnolence may prompt this diagnostic test to rule out meningitis.
What is a lumbar puncture?