Pneumonia adquirida na comunidade

Abstract

Introduction: Community acquired pneumonia is defined as an acute infection of the lung parenchyma acquired in the community different from the one acquired in a hospital setting. Epidemiology: CAP incidence varies from 5 to 11 cases per 1000 individuals per year, but with a variation according to different ages, having a higher incidence in small children and aging people. CAP is a potentially severe disease occupying the first place among the infectious diseases. CAP mortality is around 1%, rising to 5 to 12% among those who arre treated in hospital wards, but may reaching 50% among those admitted to intensive care unity. Pathogenesis: Just like what happens in other infectious diseases, the development of CAP follows one of the following pathways: tissue or organ invasion by a germ that the host offers no immunity; invasion by a number of germ that the individual superior to the possibility to the defense mechanisms to bear; invasion by any germ or number that the defense mechanisms are not able to fight. Clinical findings: The most classical finding refers to the lung parenchymal consolidation syndrome: dullness to percussion, altered breath sound and rales. Treatment: The antibiotic choice for treatment is usually based o the presenting clinical findings The proposed treatment to outpatient CAP according to the most recent guidelines (Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), American Thoracic Society (ATS) and Brazilian Thoracic Society (SBPT) is respiratory quinolone which have the advantage of being one daily dosis, five days treatment with low incidence of adverse effects and good effect on gram positive and atypical bacterias. Besides this scheme allows the patient to be engaged in a switch terapy management. © Copyright Moreira Jr. Editora.