pulmonary disorders
Community Acquired Pneumonia
Introduction
Community-acquired pneumonia is defined as pneumonia that is acquired outside the hospital. The most commonly identified pathogens areStreptococcus pneumoniae,Haemophilus influenzae, atypical bacteria (ie,Chlamydia pneumoniae,Mycoplasma pneumoniae,Legionellaspecies), and viruses. Symptoms and signs are fever, cough, sputum production, pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea, and tachycardia. Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation and chest x-ray. Treatment is with empirically chosen antibiotics. Prognosis is excellent for relatively young or healthy patients, but many pneumonias, especially when caused byS. pneumoniae,Legionella,Staphylococcus aureus, or influenza virus, are serious or even fatal in older, sicker patients. (See also Overview of Pneumonia .) 