How does someone get pneumonia?

[pwbkkp@sbcglobal.net]

How does someone get pneumonia?

[JayNick]

Pneumonia is often classified into two categories that may help predict the organisms that are the most likely culprits. 1. Community-acquired (pneumonia contracted outside the hospital). Pneumonia in this setting often follows a viral respiratory infection. It affects nearly 4 million adults each year. It is likely to be caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common pneumonia-causing bacteria. Other organisms, such as atypical bacteria called Chlamydia or Mycoplasma pneumonia are also common causes of community-acquired pneumonia. 2. Hospital-acquired pneumonia. Pneumonia that is contracted within the hospital is called nosocomial pneumonia. Hospital patients are particularly vulnerable to gram-negative bacteria and staphylococci, which can be very dangerous.

www.reutershealth.com (http://www.reutershealth.com/wellconnected/doc64.html)

[pallas]

Usually common in a person with a reduced immnunity, to infection, in most cases it is caused by either a virus or bacteria. causes of viral pneumonia include adenovirus, respitory syncytial virus, the most common bacterial pneumonia is caused by streptococcus pneumoniae. commonly occurs in alcoholics,the elderly, infants or as a complication to a serious illness