As the name suggests, a lung infection is a type of respiratory infection that affects the lungs. They are typically caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi and can lead to several unwanted signs and symptoms.
In this guide, we will discuss the different types of lung infections, their symptoms, and how they are treated. We also included helpful practice questions on this topic.
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Types of Lung Infections
Respiratory therapists are required to care for patients with different types of lung infections. Some examples include:
- Influenza (flu)
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
Each type of lung infection has its own prognosis. Additionally, the treatment method for each type may vary depending on the severity of the patient’s signs and symptoms.
Influenza
Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects the respiratory system. It is typically spread through coughing or sneezing and can also be contracted by touching an infected surface and then touching your mouth or nose.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacteria that primarily affects the lungs. It is spread through the air and can be contracted by inhaling infected droplets from a cough or sneeze of someone with the infection.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchi, which are the air passages that lead to the lungs. It is typically caused by a virus and is spread in the same way as the flu.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It is typically spread through coughing or sneezing and can also be contracted by aspirating (breathing in) contaminated food or liquids.
Common Signs and Symptoms
While there are many differences, most lung infections share common signs and symptoms, including the following:
- Coughing up mucus
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Chest pain or tightness
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Loss of appetite
In severe cases, a patient may also experience hallucinations, confusion, and an inability to stay awake.
Treatment Methods
In most cases, however, treatment will focus on relieving symptoms and supporting respiratory function. This may include bronchodilators, mucolytics, and mechanical ventilation in severe cases.
Lung Infection Practice Questions:
1. What is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia?
S. pneumonia
2. What are the most common causes of nosocomial pneumonia?
Gram-negative bacilli and S. aureus
3. What does a sputum gram stain do?
It provides valuable information about the adequacy of the specimen and the predominance of potential pathogens.
4. What was instituted to monitor and reduce ventilator-associated complications?
The VAE surveillance program
5. What is used for the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia?
Pathogen-specific antibiotic therapy
6. What plays an adjunctive role in the treatment of pneumonia?
Inhaled antibiotics
7. What is a major strategy for preventing community-acquired pneumonia?
Immunizing high-risk individuals against influenza and S. pneumoniae
8. What is important regarding a patient with tuberculosis?
Recognition, appropriate isolation, and diagnostic evaluation
9. What is an effective way to prevent nosocomial pneumonia?
Handwashing
10. What is the primary treatment method for influenza?
Antiviral medications
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11. Which type of lung infection has the most serious prognosis?
Tuberculosis
12. A patient with a lung infection may experience what?
Body aches and chills
13. Which type of lung infection is caused by a virus?
The flu
14. What is the primary treatment method for tuberculosis?
Antibiotics
15. What is the primary treatment method for pneumonia?
It depends on the cause but may include antibiotics, antiviral medications, or antifungal medications.
16. What is the best way to prevent a lung infection?
Vaccination and good hygiene practices
17. What are the common signs and symptoms of a lung infection?
Coughing up mucus, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain or tightness, fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, and loss of appetite; in severe cases, a patient may also experience hallucinations, confusion, and an inability to stay awake
18. What are the different types of lung infections?
The flu, tuberculosis, bronchitis, and pneumonia
19. How is influenza primarily spread?
It is typically spread through coughing or sneezing and can also be contracted by touching an infected surface and then touching your mouth or nose.
20. How is tuberculosis spread?
It is spread through the air and can be contracted by breathing in infected droplets from a cough or sneeze.
21. How is pneumonia primarily spread?
It is typically spread through coughing or sneezing and can also be contracted by aspirating (breathing in) contaminated food or liquids.
22. What organs does influenza primarily affect?
The respiratory system
23. What causes bronchitis?
It is typically caused by a virus.
24. What is influenza?
It is a viral infection (also called “the flu”) that is spread via droplets. It attacks the respiratory system, including the nose, throat, and lungs.
25. What is pneumonia?
It is an inflammatory process of the lung parenchyma that is usually infectious in origin. It can be caused by bacteria, fungi, or a virus. Many factors can affect how serious pneumonia is, including the germ causing the infection.
26. What is tuberculosis?
It is a disease caused by a bacteria known as mycobacterium tuberculosis that attacks the lungs. It’s an airborne disease that is spread when a person with TB coughs, sneezes, or talks.
27. What is bronchitis?
It’s a viral infection of the airways of the lungs that causes them to become irritated and inflamed.
28. What are the three infection control strategies?
(1) Interrupting routes of transmission, (2) eliminating the source of pathogens, and (3) specialized equipment processing
29. Knowing if the infection is gram-negative or positive helps with what?
It helps with selecting the proper antibiotic.
30. What three elements must be present for the transmission of an infection in a healthcare setting?
A source (or reservoir) of pathogens, a susceptible host, and a route of transmission
31. What is the name for infections that are acquired in the hospital?
Nosocomial infections
32. What is the term for inanimate objects that transfer pathogens from one person to another?
Fomites
33. What precautions are used to prevent a form of transmission that occurs when droplets are propelled short distances?
Droplet precautions
34. What are the four categories of expanded precautions?
Contact precautions, droplet precautions, airborne infection isolation, and a protective environment
35. Hand hygiene involves handwashing for at least how many seconds?
At least 15 seconds
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36. What precautions are applied to all patients?
Standard precautions
37. What is a substance that kills bacteria?
Bactericidal
38. How many hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) occur annually?
An estimated 2 million
39. What is the best choice for the high-level disinfection of semi-critical respiratory care equipment?
Glutaraldehyde
40. Which type of respiratory care equipment has the greatest potential to spread infection?
Large-volume nebulizers
41. What is the best way to prevent the spread of an infection in the ICU?
Handwashing after every patient contact
42. What should be worn when treating patients with tuberculosis?
N-95 mask
43. What are pneumatoceles?
Small cavities that develop from severe staph or gram-negative bacteria
44. What is MRSA?
Methicillin-resistant S. Aureus
45. What percentage of pneumonia goes undiagnosed?
25-50%
46. What is a healthcare-associated infection (HAI)?
It’s an infection that patients acquire during the course of medical treatment. Approximately 5% of all patients admitted to a hospital develop an HAI, with 15% of them being pneumonia.
47. What is the aim of an infection control procedure?
To eliminate the source of infectious agents, create barriers to their transmission, and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of control
48. What three elements must be present for transmission within the healthcare setting?
(1) Source of the pathogens, (2) Susceptible host, and (3) Route of transmission
49. What is the primary source of infections in the healthcare setting?
Humans are the primary source; however, inanimate objects have also been proven to cause transmission.
50. Where do most cases of nosocomial pneumonia occur?
Most cases occur in surgical patients, particularly if they have had a chest or abdominal procedure. In these patients, normal swallowing and clearance mechanisms are impaired, which allows bacteria to enter and remain in the lower respiratory tract.
51. Why are patients with an artificial tracheal airway at high risk for nosocomial pneumonia?
Typically, they require prolonged intubation and may already have one or more factors predisposing them, such as COPD. Another risk factor may be increased upper airway colonization with gram-negative bacteria. Also, handling these tubes increases the likelihood of cross-contamination.
52. What are the three major routes of transmission of pathogens in the healthcare setting?
(1) Contact (direct/indirect), (2) Respiratory droplets, or (3) Airborne droplet nuclei
53. What are the sources of infectious agents?
Humans are the primary source, and inanimate objects (e.g., contaminated medical equipment)
54. How can healthcare workers interrupt the route of transmission of pathogens?
Special equipment handling, barrier/isolation precautions using both standard and transmission-based precautions, and standard precautions
55. What are standard precautions?
They are intended to be applied to the care of all patients in the healthcare setting at all times. Standard precautions apply to blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes.
56. What does PPE stand for?
Personal protective equipment
57. When must sterile gloves be worn?
Whenever performing invasive procedures
58. What must be worn to protect against droplet diseases?
Masks
59. What is the N-95 respirator?
Intended for protection against airborne diseases
60. What are droplet precautions?
They are in place to prevent transmission that occurs when droplets are propelled short distances, such as influenza that is generated via coughing, sneezing, suctioning, bronchoscopy, and cough induction. For these precautions, a surgical mask must be worn.
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61. What is airborne infection isolation?
It involves isolation techniques that are intended to reduce the risk of selected infectious agents transmitted by “small droplets” of aerosol particles, such as M. tuberculosis. In this case, you should use an N-95 respirator mask. The room must have negative-pressure ventilation with two air exchanges per hour, and HEPA filters must be used.
62. What are some equipment handling procedures that help prevent the spread of pathogens?
Maintenance of in-use equipment, processing of reusable equipment, application of one-patient use disposables, and fluid and medication precautions
63. What are some in-use respiratory care equipment that can spread pathogens?
Nebulizers, ventilator circuits, bag-valve-mask devices, and suction equipment
64. What are four infections that spread by indirect contact transmission?
(1) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, (2) Enteric bacteria, (3) Hep B and Hep C, and (4) HIV
65. What infections are spread by droplet transmission?
Pneumonia, neisseria meningitides (pneumonia), diptheria, pertussis, influenza, and MMR
66. What infections are spread by airborne transmission?
Legionellosis, TB, varicella, measles, and smallpox
67. What factors can enhance the susceptibility of an infection?
Diabetes, age, obesity, or an underlying HIV infection
68. Which patients are more at risk for pneumonia?
Elderly, obese, COPD, and patients with an artificial airway
69. What is the most difficult and least feasible approach to infection control?
Decreasing host susceptibility
70. What vaccine does OSHA mandate that employers provide to healthcare workers?
Hepatitis B vaccine
71. What is the best way to decrease host susceptibility to a device-related infection?
Limit device use and ensure that the devices are placed and maintained properly
72. What do infection control procedures aim to do?
Eliminate the source of agents, create barriers to their transmission, and monitor the effectiveness of control
73. What is disinfection?
It describes a process that destroys the vegetative form of all pathogenic organisms on an inanimate object, except bacterial spores. Disinfection can involve either chemical or physical methods.
74. What is high-level disinfection?
It is the inactivation of all microorganisms, except bacterial spores. However, with sufficient exposure time, spores may also be destroyed.
75. What is Sterilization?
It is the process that destroys all microorganisms. It can be achieved with physical and chemical approaches. Steam sterilization is the easiest and most common. Low-temperature sterilization technology includes ethylene oxide, which is a colorless and toxic gas.
Final Thoughts
Respiratory therapists treat many different types of patients with cardiopulmonary conditions, including those with lung infections. That is why it’s important to be familiar with the different types that were mentioned in this guide.
We have a similar guide on pleural diseases that I think you will find helpful. Thanks for reading and, as always, breathe easy, my friend.
Written by:
John Landry, BS, RRT
John Landry is a registered respiratory therapist from Memphis, TN, and has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. He enjoys using evidence-based research to help others breathe easier and live a healthier life.
References
- Faarc, Kacmarek Robert PhD Rrt, et al. Egan’s Fundamentals of Respiratory Care. 12th ed., Mosby, 2020.
- Rrt, Des Terry Jardins MEd, and Burton George Md Facp Fccp Faarc. Clinical Manifestations and Assessment of Respiratory Disease. 8th ed., Mosby, 2019.
- “Lung Infections.” PubMed Central (PMC), 2011, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7315348.
- “Chapter 93 Infections of the Respiratory System.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1996, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8142.
- “Lung Diseases: Chronic Respiratory Infections.” PubMed Central (PMC), 1 Oct. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6213170.