Hospital-acquired pneumonia

Alternative names:

nosocomial pneumonia

Symptoms:

• cough
  • may produce mucus-like, greenish, or pus-like sputum
• chills
• fever
• easy fatigue
• chest pain
  • 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)
• sweating, excessive (rare)

Signs and tests:

A physical examination reveals crackles found by listening to the chest with a stethoscope.

Tests performed may include:

• chest X-ray
• sputum Gram stain
• CBC (complete blood cell count)
• arterial blood gases

Updated Date: 02/09/00

Updated By:J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial