In some cases, they could co-exist, increasing the chance of a more unfortunate outcome. However, there may be important clues in the history and the examination that can help differentiate the two. Viral pneumonia may clear up on its own; however, when severe, it can be life-threatening. Viruses are generally not as common a cause of CAP as some bacteria.
However, as well as being a primary pathogen, viruses can be a co-pathogen with bacteria, particularly in those with severe illness requiring admission to ICU and in ventilator-associated pneumonia.
The review reported that the interaction of CAP and viral infection doubled mortality: odds of death in patients with bacterial and viral infection OR 2. Coronavirus has also been shown to occur with CAP. I n a cohort of patients with viral or non-viral community-acquired pneumonia viral pneumonia was associated with:. The Development of a Bedside Predictive Model and Scoring System in consecutive patients classified as having virus-like 48 , bacterial 37 and unknown 18 pneumonia found that the independent predictors for bacterial pneumonia were:.
The sample was small and the results might not be generalizable outside of the ED setting and they have not been validated. Along with viral and bacterial pneumonia, there's a third type worth knowing: fungal. This variant is far more rare and generally seen only in people with a weakened immune system due to certain conditions.
You probably already know the drill here: Wash your hands frequently , avoid sneezers and their trail of tissues, and clean frequently touched surfaces—elevator buttons, handles, doorknobs—where germs can linger.
And keep your immune system strong with a nutritious diet, lots of water, and adequate sleep, Turner adds. Vaccines are also a powerful preventive measure. Get the flu vaccine annually —influenza on its own is unpleasant, but it can also lead to pneumonia.
Pneumonia: Here's How to Tell the Difference. Along with a physical exam, your doctor may take a sputum culture, chest X-ray, and blood work to determine if you have a viral or bacterial form of pneumonia, Turner says. Your diagnosis is important since it helps determine treatment. Common signs of pneumonia can include cough, fever, and trouble breathing. Certain people are more likely to get pneumonia:. Viruses, bacteria, and fungi can all cause pneumonia.
A common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumococcus. These bacteria can cause a wide range of infections—like pneumonia—known as pneumococcal disease.
There are two vaccines that help prevent pneumococcal disease among adults 65 years or older. Both vaccines are safe and effective, but they cannot be given at the same time.
CDC recommends adults 65 years or older get a shot of PCV13 if they have never received a dose and have a:. Older adults who have never received a dose and do not have one of the conditions described above may also discuss vaccination with their vaccine provider to decide if PCV13 is appropriate for them. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
Muhlestein said that he also recommends that doctors prescribe antibiotics to patients who are old and and have underlying health problems, even if they think the infection is viral. That's because these individuals have weaker immune systems, and may easily develop a bacterial infection that can progress to pneumonia, he said. Yasemin is a staff writer at Live Science, covering health, neuroscience and biology.
She has a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Connecticut and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Live Science. Yasemin Saplakoglu.
0コメント