Community-Acquired Pneumonia Care

 Community-Acquired Pneumonia Care

Please ensure that the Discussion includes more than 400 words with scholarly articles, and the plagiarism level must remain below 20%.

Case Study: Respiratory Infection

Patient Information:

• Name: Sarah Smith

• Age: 25

• Gender: Female

• Occupation: Teacher

• Medical History: No significant medical history reported.

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Community-Acquired Pneumonia Care

Presenting Complaint: Sarah Smith presents to the clinic with complaints of cough, fever, and

difficulty breathing for the past week. She reports a productive cough with yellowish-green

sputum and chest tightness.

Physical Examination Findings:

• Vital Signs: BP 110/70 mmHg, HR 90 bpm, RR 20 breaths/min, Temp 101.2°F

• General: Alert and oriented, appears ill

• Respiratory: Decreased breath sounds and crackles heard bilaterally on auscultation

• Cardiovascular: Regular rhythm, no murmurs or abnormal sounds

• Abdomen: Soft, non-tender, no organomegaly

• Neurological: Intact cranial nerves, normal motor and sensory functions

Laboratory Investigations:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): Elevated white blood cell count (WBC) with left shift

• Chest X-ray: Infiltrates in bilateral lower lung fields consistent with pneumonia

Diagnosis: Sarah Smith is diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia based on her clinical

presentation, physical examination findings, and radiological evidence.

Questions for Students:

1. What are the common signs and symptoms of community-acquired pneumonia?

2. Describe the typical findings on physical examination and chest X-ray in patients with

pneumonia.

3. What are the most common pathogens causing community-acquired pneumonia, and

how would you choose empirical antibiotic therapy in this patient?

4. Discuss the management of community-acquired pneumonia, including non-

pharmacological measures and potential complications to monitor for.

Clinical Presentation and Diagnostic Findings
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) often presents with cough, fever, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Patients may also experience fatigue, chills, or sweating. Sarah’s productive cough with yellow-green sputum and fever are typical signs. On physical exam, decreased breath sounds and bilateral crackles usually suggest lung consolidation. Chest X-rays commonly reveal infiltrates in one or more lobes. In Sarah’s case, the bilateral lower lobe infiltrates confirm the diagnosis. Elevated white blood cells and a left shift on CBC are also consistent with bacterial infection.