Abstract |
Overwhelming pneumonias remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality. These illnesses may be rapidly fatal; thus, many patients are treated empirically. Although the various etiologic agents cannot be differentiated on the basis of radiographic appearance, epidemiologic information may give a clue to the cause. Community-acquired overwhelming pneumonias are usually due to pyogenic bacteria (especially Streptococcus pneumoniae), mycoplasma, mycobacteria, and fungi. Hospital-acquired pneumonias are usually due to aerobic gram-negative bacilli. If the patient is immunocompromised, Pneumocystis carinii, Candida, and Aspergillus must be considered. Choice of optimal antimicrobial therapy requires that a specific etiology be identified. Gram's stain of sputum is often helpful in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia. Invasive diagnostic techniques such as bronchoscopy and open lung biopsy are often required in nosocomial pneumonias and pneumonias in immunocompromised patients.
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Authors | J Segreti, R C Bone |
Journal | Disease-a-month : DM
(Dis Mon)
Vol. 33
Issue 1
Pg. 1-59
(Jan 1987)
ISSN: 0011-5029 [Print] United States |
PMID | 3026760
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
(complications, microbiology)
- Blastomycosis
(complications)
- Coccidioidomycosis
(complications)
- Cross Infection
(physiopathology)
- Haemophilus Infections
(complications)
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Histoplasmosis
(complications)
- Humans
- Legionnaires' Disease
(complications, diagnosis, physiopathology)
- Lung Diseases
(etiology)
- Orthomyxoviridae Infections
(complications)
- Penicillin G
(therapeutic use)
- Pneumonia
(diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology, microbiology)
- Pneumonia, Aspiration
(drug therapy, physiopathology)
- Pneumonia, Pneumococcal
(diagnosis, physiopathology)
- Pneumonia, Staphylococcal
(physiopathology)
- Pneumonia, Viral
(etiology)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Tuberculosis
(diagnosis)
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