Bacteriology & Antibiotics

Bacterial pulmonary infections (Pneumonia)

The lung is exposed to enormous quantities of air and to potentially infectious agents. The most common causes of bacterial lung infections in normal hosts include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus species, Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Pneumonia is a common lung infection where the lungs’ air sacks become inflamed. These sacs may also fill with fluid, pus, and cellular debris. It can be caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria. Pneumonia can make it difficult for to get enough oxygen to your blood, which can cause cells to not work properly. Pneumonia can be particularly dangerous for infants, children, and toddlers. In infants, difficulty breathing may show up as flaring nostrils or chest sinking when breathing. Bacteria pneumonia is caused by bacteria that works its way into the lungs and then multiplies. It can occur on its own or develop after another illness, like a cold or the flu.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP): This is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia. CAP occurs when you get an infection after exposure to bacterial agents outside of a healthcare setting. You can get CAP by breathing in respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes, or by skin-to-skin contact.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP): HAP occurs within two to three days of exposure to germs in a medical setting, such as a hospital or doctor’s office. This is also called a “nosocomial infection.” This type of pneumonia is often more resistant to antibiotics and more is difficult to treat than CAP.