Ventilator-associated pneumonia

Influenza, probably best known as "the flu”, is an infectious respiratory disease. Although the disease is often mild, it can also be life-threatening and causes serious infection and death each year, usually in the winter months. 250,000-500,000 deaths annually occur due to influenza viruses1–3. Particularly elderly people, people with a weakened immune system and people with pre-existing respiratory, cardiac and endocrine diseases are affected by complications3. Due to some pre-existing…

Pulmonary rehabilitation – support includes: promoting smoking cessation, healthy nutrition associated with comorbidities reducing risk factors, physical activity individualized exercise plans, proper medication use, adherence to prescribed medications, disease self-management, psychological support. (Uptodate) 5. Influenza vaccination-recommended for COPD patients (Preventing COPD exacerbation associated with respiratory tract infections).…

In February 2010, before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, unusual mortality rates of dolphins started to be recorded and researched; a fact BP uses to deny any causation of increased mortality due to the oil spill. They argue that other factors play roles in dolphin death, including exposure to fresh water, cooler climates, red tide, and diseases such as Morbillivirus and Brucella. Because of these other potential causes is it hard to say if the increase in deaths is from the oil spill, but one…

Cilia and the Protection of the Respiratory Tract Introduction Approximately twelve thousand litres of air is inhaled by one person each day containing environmental stimuli including pathogens and particles such as toxic pollutants and allergens. These must be expelled from the body as it may induce airway inflammation and infection, causing airway diseases. Mucociliary clearance acts as an innate defence against these stimuli, where cilia is a part of this mechanism. Cilia, microscopic…

non-psychological causes. The psychological causes range from simple depression to a subconscious conversion reaction. On numerous occasions there are affected individuals without evidence of any psychopathology. The main trigger factor for VCD associated with psychological causes is emotional stress. Non-psychogenic trigger factors include all common asthma triggers such as dust, cigarette smoke, exercise, occupational irritant exposure, upper respiratory tract infection, laryngopharyngeal…

Pulmonary cryptococcosis typically occurs in immunocompromised patients, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Its presence in HIV/AIDS patients is associated with higher mortality [1]. Pulmonary cryptococcal infections have been reported in nonimmunocompromised hosts, including non-AIDS patients [1, 2] and children [3]. Due to advances in the diagnosis and widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, immunosuppressants, glucocorticoids…

Exacerbation means when increased inflammation to the neutrophils and eosinophils. It also can be caused by bacterial or viral infections (pneumonia). Other environmental issues that can cause exacerbation are; air pollution and temperature changes. Once a person is considered to be in severe exacerbation, their gas exchanges are limited due to ventilation/perfusion exchange. Muscle fatigue is…

EAR INFECTIONS Infections of the ear are the most prevalent diagnosed disease among children in the United States. When talking about child’s safety, it’s their health that counts most due to their numerous exposures to the environment harboring germs and the likes. Ensuring that we care for our children’s ear is very vital not just on looks in their physical composure but also the well-being attributed to their language improvements, academic excellence among other. The nature by which the…

1 Chronic cough 2 Current smoker - 15-20 pack-year history 3 Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease/hiatus hernia 4 Diverticular disease 5 Osteoporosis Thank you for referring Jillian Whiffen, a 72-year-old lady who has previously owned a news agency and worked for a family business. Jillian currently smokes six cigarettes per day and keeps no pets. Regular medications are Nexium, Ostelin, Cardia, Crestor, Prolia infections and she was using Pulmicort a couple of months ago. Around three…

Serratia genre includes Gram negative rod- shape bacteria, aerobe facultative anaerobe and chemo-oganotrophic with low nutrional requirements. According to Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Serratia genre belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family and includes 12 species 1,2. They are widespread in the natural environment, being isolated from soil, water and different plants (vegetables, mushrooms, grasses, mosses, trees)1,2,3. Serratia marcescens grows at 37°C, but it can grow in…