Hospital-acquired pneumonia

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Hospital-acquired pneumonia

Respiratory system

Nosocomial pneumonia

• Cough that may produce mucus-like, greenish, or pus-like sputum
• Chills
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Easy fatigue
• Chest pain that is: 
  • Increased by deep breathing or coughing
  • Sharp or stabbing
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
• Joint stiffness and joint pain (rare)
• Muscular stiffness (rare)
• Excessive sweating (rare)

A physical examination reveals respiratory distress and crackles or decreased breath sounds when listening to the chest with a stethoscope.

Tests performed may include:

• Chest x-ray or CT scan
• Sputum gram stain
• Sputum culture
• Blood cultures
• CBC (complete blood cell count)
• Arterial blood gases

Review Date: 11/07/2005
Reviewed By: Cyrus Badshah, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & Medical Director, Chest (TB) Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, Harlem Hospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.