Hospital pneumonia, by definition, is one that is acquired between 48 hours after hospital admission and 72 hours after discharge, but was not incubated at the time of entry.
Generally, the causes of hospital pneumonia are viruses, fungi, bacteria or protozoa that settle in the lungs, decreasing the amount of oxygen and producing respiratory infection.
Hospital pneumonia is curable and its treatment must be started as soon as possible, according to Anvisa, hospital-acquired pneumonia is the main infection acquired at the hospital level.
Symptoms of Hospital Pneumonia
Symptoms of hospital-acquired pneumonia are similar to those of community-acquired pneumonia and include:
- Muscle pain;
- Fever above 39º;
- Creeps and perspiration;
- Dry cough that evolves to cough with catarrh;
- Easy tiredness and drowsiness;
- Sore throat.
When the individual has these symptoms should seek a pulmonologist to evaluate the clinical picture and perform complementary tests such as chest x-ray, CT scan or sputum and blood test to initiate appropriate treatment.
Symptoms of Hospital Pneumonia in the Elderly
Hospital pneumonia in the elderly usually does not present the same symptoms as in a younger adult, and the most common are:
- Stop doing what you did;
- Aggravation of previous diseases;
- Losing your appetite;
- Feeling tired and unwilling to do something;
- Get very confused.
The elderly are individuals with higher risk factors for developing hospital pneumonia, due to the greater number of diseases, fragile immune system and large number of hospitalizations.
Treatment for hospital pneumonia
Treatment can be done with antibiotic medicines for 2 to 3 weeks, such as ceftriaxone, levofloxacin and gentamicin, which will reduce inflammation caused by hospital-acquired pneumonia.
There are signs of improvement around the 7th day and, depending on the severity of the infection, the patient may remain hospitalized during treatment or, in some cases, be discharged. In the latter case, patients with the disease may use oral antibiotics at home.
In some cases, physiotherapy may also be indicated, with respiratory exercises can complement the treatment with medicines, helping in the removal of infected secretions and preventing new bacteria from reaching the lung, and it is also used in patients who are hospitalized for a long time, as a form of prevention of hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Hospital pneumonia can be contagious and therefore it is important for the patient to avoid public spaces such as work, parks or school until he is cured. However, if it is necessary to go to these places, the individual should wear a protective mask, which can be bought at any pharmacy, or place a hand, or handkerchief, in front of the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
