Content
Hospital pneumonia is a type of pneumonia that occurs 48 hours after a person's hospitalization or up to 72 hours after discharge and that the microorganism responsible for the infection was not incubating at the time of admission to the hospital, having been acquired in a hospital environment.
This type of pneumonia can be related to procedures performed at the hospital and can be caused, mainly, by bacteria that are present in the hospital environment and that can settle in the person's lungs, decreasing the amount of oxygen and producing respiratory infection.
It is important that hospital pneumonia is identified and treated quickly so that complications can be prevented and there is a greater chance of achieving a cure. Thus, the general practitioner or pulmonologist or infectious disease specialist may recommend the use of antibiotics in order to eliminate the responsible microorganism and promote improvement of symptoms.
Causes of hospital pneumonia
Hospital pneumonia is caused by microorganisms that can be found more easily in the hospital due to virulence factors that they have that allow them to stay longer in the hospital environment and that are not removed by disinfectants normally used in the hospital environment.
This type of pneumonia occurs more easily in people who are undergoing mechanical ventilation, then receiving the name of pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation, and who have less immune system activity or who have difficulty swallowing, with a greater likelihood of aspiration bacteria that naturally colonize the upper respiratory tract.
Thus, the main microorganisms associated with hospital pneumonia are:
- Klebsiella pneumoniae;
- Enterobacter sp;
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
- Acinetobacter baumannii;
- Staphylococcus aureus;
- Streptococcus pneumoniae;
- Legionella sp .;
To confirm hospital pneumonia, it is necessary to confirm that the infection happened 48 hours after hospitalization or up to 72 hours after discharge, in addition to the need for laboratory and imaging tests to help confirm pneumonia and the microorganism associated with the disease. infection. Learn more about hospital infection.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of hospital-acquired pneumonia are similar to those of community-acquired pneumonia, with high fever, dry cough that can progress to cough with yellow or bloody discharge, easy tiredness, lack of appetite, chest pain and difficulty breathing.
As most cases of nosocomial pneumonia happen to the person still in hospital, the symptoms are usually observed immediately by the team responsible for the person, and the treatment started soon after. However, if the symptoms of hospital pneumonia appear after discharge, it is important that the person consult the doctor who accompanied them in order to make an evaluation, indicated to carry out tests and, if necessary, initiate the most appropriate treatment.
Learn to recognize the symptoms of pneumonia.
Treatment for hospital pneumonia
The treatment of nosocomial pneumonia should be indicated by the pulmonologist in accordance with the general health of the person and the microorganism responsible for the pneumonia, and the use of antibiotics to combat the microorganism and reduce inflammation is usually indicated.
The signs of improvement usually appear around the 7th day of treatment, however, depending on the severity of the pneumonia, the person may remain hospitalized during treatment or, in some cases, be discharged. In the latter case, people with the disease can use oral antibiotics at home.
In some cases, physical therapy may also be indicated, with breathing exercises it can complement the treatment with medicines, helping in the removal of infected secretions and preventing new bacteria from reaching the lung, being also used in patients who have been hospitalized for a long time, as a way of prevention of hospital pneumonia. Understand how respiratory physiotherapy is done.
Hospital pneumonia can be contagious and, therefore, it is important for the person to avoid public spaces such as work, parks or school, until he is cured. However, if it is necessary to go to these places, it is recommended that a protective mask be used, which can be purchased at any pharmacy, or put your hand or handkerchief in front of your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough.
See also some exercises that help strengthen the lung and speed recovery from pneumonia: