Community acquired pneumonia in the elderly

What is the most common cause of community acquired pneumonia?

Worldwide, Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacteria that is most often responsible for CAP in adults. Some other common bacteria that cause CAP are: Haemophilus influenzae .

What is the survival rate for pneumonia in the elderly?

Pneumonia in the elderly happens fast and the prognosis is poor, and elderly are susceptible to severe Pneumonia . The mortality rate for severe pneumonia is as high as 20% [4]. The principal cause of the death is respiratory insufficiency [5].

What disease most predisposes to the development of community acquired pneumonia in elderly patients?

Age group varied from 66 years to 88 years. Presentation varied from typical symptoms to altered sensorium. Smoking and COPD were most common predisposing conditions. Most common organisms responsible were Streptococcus pneumonia , Klebsiella pneumonia , Pseudomonas, H.

How do you manage community acquired pneumonia?

Patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia or who are admitted to the intensive care unit should be treated with a beta -lactam antibiotic, plus azithromycin or a respiratory fluoroquinolone.

How long does community acquired pneumonia last?

With treatment, most people improve within 2 weeks. Older adults or very sick people may need longer treatment. Those who may be more likely to have complicated pneumonia include: Older adults.

What are the 4 stages of pneumonia?

There are four stages of pneumonia , which are consolidation, red hepatization, grey hepatization and resolution.

How serious is pneumonia in elderly?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can be serious in older adults . In the U.S., nearly 250,000 people are hospitalized with pneumonia each year, and about 50,000 die from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seniors are at high risk for complications and death.

What percentage of pneumonia patients die?

This can lead to a rapid decline in condition. Most people do eventually recover from pneumonia. However, the 30-day mortality rate is 5 to 10 percent of hospitalized patients. It can be up to 30 percent in those admitted to intensive care.

What are the symptoms of dying from pneumonia?

The most common physical symptoms in the final stages are: feeling more severely out of breath . reducing lung function making breathing harder. having frequent flare-ups. finding it difficult to maintain a healthy body weight. feeling more anxious and depressed.

How does pneumonia present in the elderly?

The symptoms of pneumonia in older individuals can differ from those in other age groups. Older adults with pneumonia may be more likely to: feel weak or unsteady, which can increase the risk of falling. be without a fever or have a body temperature that’s lower than normal.

Can a 90 year old recover from pneumonia?

When you are caring for a senior with pneumonia , you can expect a recovery time as long as six to eight weeks. This increased recovery time is due to the weakened state of the elderly with the illness and their body’s inability to fight off the bacteria that pneumonia produces in their lungs.

What are the signs of pneumonia in elderly?

Symptoms Chest pain when you breathe or cough . Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older) Cough , which may produce phlegm. Fatigue . Fever, sweating and shaking chills. Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems) Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

When should you go to the hospital with pneumonia?

See your doctor to rule out pneumonia if shortness of breath , cough, or chest congestion also develop. Seek emergency care at a Dignity Health ER or urgent care clinic for the following symptoms: Bluish color of the lips or fingernails. Confusion or lethargy.

What is severe community acquired pneumonia?

Severe CAP is defined as a pneumonia requiring supportive therapy within a critical care environment, that is associated with a higher mortality rate. Severe CAP is frequently a multisystem disease and patients will often present with multiple organ failure.

What antibiotic is best for pneumonia?

Macrolides . The best initial antibiotic choice is thought to be a macrolide . Macrolides provide the best coverage for the most likely organisms in community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CAP). Macrolides have effective coverage for gram-positive, Legionella, and Mycoplasma organisms.