Respiratory Conditions: Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

Acute bronchitis and pneumonia are conditions commonly diagnosed in inpatient and outpatient settings. Acute bronchitis is a lower respiratory tract infection characterized by cough, with or without sputum production, lasting 1 to 3 weeks. It typically is viral. Testing for influenza should be obtained in patients at high risk of influenza complications. Antibiotics are not indicated in patients without chronic lung disease unless Bordetella pertussis infection is suspected. If pertussis is confirmed, macrolide antibiotics should be prescribed. Otherwise, symptom control and patient education are key to management. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of death in children and adults. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and imaging study results. Ultrasonography is more accurate than chest x-rays. Severity scoring systems are used to aid clinical judgement in selecting inpatient versus outpatient management. Antibiotics should be administered according to current guidelines. Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are nosocomial infections with high mortality rates. Microorganisms responsible for HAP and VAP have high rates of resistance and vary based on geographic regions. Implementation of prevention protocols has decreased rates of VAP.