HWN Suggests

Community-acquired staphylococcal pneumonia

The incidence of S. aureus infection in CAP is low. Therefore, it is not usually treated with the empirical treatments recommended in the related guidelines. However, effective antistaphylococcal antibiotics should be included in the initial therapeutic regimen of patients presenting radiological and epidemiological characteristics suggestive of such etiology. In addition, the choice of antibiotic therapy should be guided by the pattern of local sensitivity and by the presence of risk factors for MRSA, such as comorbidities, residence in nursing homes, drug use, recent hospitalization and previous use of antibiotic therapy.

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Articles of Interest

Misleading presentation of staphylococcal pneumonia in an adolescent girl: a case report

S. aureus is a relatively uncommon causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia. The clinical presentation of staphylococcal community-acquired pneumonia is typically acute and severe.

Staphylococcal pneumonia, an actual challenge in pediatric practice – a case report

The management of staphylococcal pneumonia is based on both symptomatic and especially the etiologic treatment, which in mild and medium forms involves monotherapy with Vancomycin or Oxacillin by vein, while in severe ones antibiotics associations such as Vancomycin and Oxacillin or Gentamycin in methicillin resistant cases.

Staphylococcal Pneumonia: A Contemporary Rarity

The reasons for the current decline in childhood staphylococcal pneumonia are not immediately apparent. Nevertheless, the clinician must not forget the possibility of this disease, particularly with infants under one year of age.

Staphylococcus aureus Community-acquired Pneumonia: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes

Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and its clinical features remain incompletely understood, complicating empirical selection of antibiotics.

Staphylococcus aureus Pneumonia: Preceding Influenza Infection Paves the Way for Low-Virulent Strains

Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative pathogenic bacterium that colonizes the nasopharyngeal area of healthy individuals, but can also induce severe infection, such as pneumonia. Pneumonia caused by mono- or superinfected S. aureus leads to high mortality rates.

Resources

Medigoo

Pneumonia, usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus, usually commencing as a bronchopneumonia, and frequently leading to suppuration and destruction of lung tissue. Staphylococcal pneumonia is a serious progressive infection which is associated with high incidence of complications and mortality unless recognized early and treated appropriately. Until 1990s, Staphylococcal pneumonia was considered an uncommon form of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), accounting for 2-5% of all community-acquired pneumonia and occurring primarily in patients with influenza. In addition, S. aureus was recognized as an important but infrequent cause of nosocomial pneumonia, especially in pregnant woman and in the elderly.

Radiology Key

Pulmonary infection occurs through hematogenous spread or aspiration of contaminated oral secretions. Twenty to 40% of older children and adults, and more than 50% of health care workers, are nasal carriers of staphylococci. S. aureus causes less than 5% of community-acquired pneumonias, but is responsible for more than 10% of hospital-acquired pneumonias. Staphylococcal pneumonia often complicates viral pneumonias.

StatPearls

Community-acquired staphylococcal pneumonia is usually seen in patients that are recovering from influenza. The infection is seen in a bimodal distribution, with the younger and elderly populations being more at risk. It should be noted that Pneumococcus is still the leading cause of post-viral pneumonia in this population.