Community-acquired Pneumonia

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), is a lung infection that you get from being around other people. CAP is not a pneumonia you get from being in a hospital or long-term care facility. CAP is caused by an infection from one or more germs, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi (yeasts). With early treatment and care, your CAP infection may go away, and serious problems from it be prevented.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits.

• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to fight or prevent an infection caused by bacteria. Always take your antibiotics exactly as ordered by your primary healthcare provider. Do not stop taking your medicine unless directed by your primary healthcare provider. Never save antibiotics or take leftover antibiotics that were given to you for another illness.
  
  
• Antifungal medicine: This medicine helps kill fungus that can cause illness.
  
  
• Antiviral medicine: This is given to prevent or treat an infection caused by a germ called a virus. Antiviral medicine may also be given to control symptoms of a viral infection that cannot be cured.
  
  
• Expectorants: Expectorant medicine helps thin your sputum (mucus from the lungs). When sputum is thin, it may be easier for you to cough it up and spit it out. This may make your breathing easier, and may help you get better faster.
  
  
• Antipyretics: This medicine is given to decrease a fever.
  
  
• Steroids: Steroid medicine may help to open your air passages so you can breathe easier. Do not stop taking this medicine without your caregiver's OK. Stopping on your own can cause problems.

Follow up with your primary healthcare provider as directed:

Write down any questions you have so you will remember to ask them during your follow-up visits.

Self-care:

• Avoid the spread of germs:
  
  
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. Carry germ-killing gel with you. You can use the gel to clean your hands when there is no soap and water available.
    
    
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth unless you have washed your hands first.
    
    
  • Always cover your mouth when you cough. Cough into a tissue or your shirtsleeve so you do not spread germs from your hands.
    
    
  • Try to avoid people who have a cold or the flu. If you are sick, stay away from others as much as possible.
  
  
• Drink enough liquids: Men 19 years old or older should drink about 3 liters of liquid each day (close to thirteen 8 ounce cups). Women 19 years old or older should drink about 2.2 liters of liquid each day (close to nine 8 ounce cups). Follow your caregiver's advice if you must limit the amount of liquid you drink. Liquids help thin your mucus, which may make it easier for you to cough it up. While you are sick, do not drink alcohol.
  
  
• Vaccines: To prevent influenza (flu), all adults should get the influenza vaccine. They should get it every year as soon as it becomes available. The pneumococcal vaccine is given to adults aged 65 years or older to prevent pneumococcal disease, such as pneumonia. People aged 19 to 64 years at high risk for pneumococcal disease also should get the pneumococcal vaccine. It may need to be repeated 5 years later.
  
  
• Quit smoking: Do not smoke, and do not allow others to smoke around you. Smoking increases your risk of lung infections and CAP. Smoking also makes it harder for you to get better after having a lung infection. Talk to your caregiver if you need help to quit smoking.
  
  
• Rest: Rest when you feel it is needed. Slowly start to do more each day. Return to your daily activities as directed.

Contact your primary healthcare provider if:

• You have fever and chills.
  
  
• Your cough comes back, does not go away, or you begin to cough up blood.
  
  
• You feel very tired or weak, or are sleeping more than usual.
  
  
• You cannot eat or have loss of appetite, nausea (upset stomach), or vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• You are urinating less, or not at all.
  
  
• Your heart or pulse beats more than 100 times in 1 minute.

Return to the emergency department if:

• Your symptoms do not get better, or get worse.
  
  
• You are confused and cannot think clearly.
  
  
• You have increased trouble breathing, or your breathing seems faster than normal.
  
  
• Your lips or fingernails turn gray or blue.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Community-acquired Pneumonia (Aftercare Instructions)