World Pneumonia Day 2020

Pneumonia is incredibly common. In 2019 alone, 2.5 million lives worldwide were lost to this infectious disease, over half of which were children. On Nov. 12, 2009, a coalition of global health leaders established World Pneumonia Day to raise awareness, promote pharmaceutical intervention, and generate action to combat pneumonia across the globe. Today, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology joins in this effort by explaining this illness and the risks it poses. We also highlight new research by scientists working combat it.

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a potentially serious infection affecting one or both lungs, resulting in inflammation and the buildup of pus and/or fluids in the air sacs, known as alveoli, where gas exchange occurs.

Pneumonia manifests as a mild to severe illness, ranging from moderate flulike symptoms to sepsis, respiratory failure and even death. The range of illness often depends on age, cause of infection, and one’s general health at the time of infection.

While an assortment of germs cause pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumoniae, a resident bacteria of the respiratory tract, is the most common form. Among adults, the influenza virus (the flu) is the traditional cause of viral pneumonia, while the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of viral pneumonia in children. Similarly, certain soil-dwelling fungi also promote pneumonia in individuals. For the immunocompromised, or those with chronic health conditions, fungal pneumonia is most common.

Lastly, with the onslaught of the recent pandemic, SARS-COV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is also contributing to increasing cases of pneumonia worldwide.

Transmission

Pneumonia transmission manifests through multiple means. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the spread of pneumonia can occur in a community-acquired or healthcare-associated fashion, meaning transmission can take place outside the hospital (in the community setting) or after time spent in a healthcare facility, respectively.

Patients who undergo ventilation receive oxygen externally through a tube placed either down their nose or mouth or directly into the trachea (windpipe). In the hospital setting, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can develop when a patient requires mechanical assistance. While this procedure is effective and life-saving, the presence of a foreign device can introduce germs and cause infection. VAP occurs when these germs enter a patient’s lungs through the ventilation equipment, promoting pneumatic infection.

Hospitals combat VAP through enhanced hygiene protocols and reducing the amount of time spent on the ventilator, for example: frequent cleaning of the patient’s mouth, hand washing before and after touching the patient or ventilator tubes and daily checks on the patient’s ability to breathe independently.

Smoking greatly increases a person’s risk of contracting VAP. Good oral and personal hygiene reduce the risk.

Diagnosis and treatment

The symptoms of pneumonia can vary from mild to severe, therefore initial diagnosis can be difficult. Often, physicians will perform a physical exam, followed by diagnostics such as blood tests or mucus samples to confirm infection and determine the source pathogen.

Another diagnostic tool that physicians use is the chest X-ray; the X-ray provides a picture of your lungs, showing sites of inflammation or fluid buildup. In the hospital setting, patients may also undergo a CT scan, which can give a clearer, in-depth view of the lungs and any potential complications.

Once you are diagnosed with pneumonia, your physician will determine a treatment plan; often, this depends on the infectious agent (bacteria, virus or fungi). In the case of bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics are often prescribed. It is important to note that completing the course of antibiotic medication is vital to recovery; stopping medication early can lead to reinfection or the onset of antibiotic resistance. Viral pneumonia often requires an alternate course of treatment, usually in the form of antiviral medications. Similarly, fungal pneumonia infections are treated with antifungal drugs, of which often require administration over several weeks.

Prevention

Pneumonia can affect people of all ages, but there are simple measures you can take to prevent pneumatic infection, such as keeping your vaccinations up to date. According to the CDC, routine vaccinations can lower your risk for pneumonia by reducing the risk of infection by other pneumonia-causing pathogens.

Currently, two pneumonia-specific vaccines are available in the United States and are recommended for different age groups; these include the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23).

While vaccines cannot prevent all cases of pneumonia, research demonstrates the pneumococcal vaccines exhibit considerable protection in infants, adults and the elderly against invasive and pneumococcal pneumonia.

Aside from vaccinations, adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can also reduce your risk of contracting pneumonia. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising and getting an adequate amount of sleep all help to reduce the risk of respiratory illness.

For those living with lung disease, the American Lung Association encourages regular exercise, defined as 30 minutes per day, five days a week, to increase lung strength. Physical activity of this kind also reduces the risk of serious illness, such as lung cancer.

While aerobic exercise is beneficial for muscle and lung strength, relaxing breathing exercises enhance lung capacity and function. For individuals suffering with breathing conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, five to 10 minutes a day of exercises, such as diaphragmatic or pursed-lip breathing, have shown to increase lung capacity and efficiency.