Primary Care Reports – May 1, 2022
May 1, 2022
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Identifying Community-Acquired Pneumonia During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Pneumonia is an infection of the alveoli of the lungs. Alveolar infection results in inflammation that disrupts normal pulmonary function, producing impaired gas exchange. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Pathogens can infect the lung parenchyma through three routes: inhalation, aspiration, or hematogenous spread. In community-acquired pneumonia, the infection is initiated outside the hospital. The prevalence of COVID-19, the clinical disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has changed the landscape of pneumonia.