Respiratory Medicine in Dundee
Questions on Pneumonia
1) Pneumococcus is the commonest cause of nosocomial pneumonia.
Incorrect
CORRECT!
It is one of the commonest causes of community acquired pneiumonia. Hospital acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia causes can be hard to pinpoint as many patients will have had antibiotics already, although gram negative organisms are frequently implicated.
2) Staphylococcus aureus infection may complicate primary infection with influenza virus.
CORRECT!
It is a common cause of additional respiratory tract infection in those with influenza.
Incorrect
3) Infection with pneumocystis carinii often occurs in healthy young adults.
Incorrect
CORRECT!
Pneumocystis carinii is actually a fungus that causes respiratory tract infection in patients with a suppressed immune system, either due to disease (AIDS) or drugs (immunosuppressants). It tends to present with a dry cough, shortness of breath, desaturation on exertion and pulmonary infiltrates on CXR.
4) Labial herpes often occurs in association with pneumococcal pneumonia.
CORRECT!
Incorrect
5) Raised blood urea and low blood pressure are poor prognostic indicators.
CORRECT!
They are features of the CURB 65 scoring system for community acquired pneumonia.
CURB 65 severity scoring from the BTS Guidelines on pneumonia
Incorrect
