Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a leading cause of death and hospitalization, costing health care systems billions of dollars and an estimated 600,000 adult deaths worldwide each year. Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and the term describes a group of illnesses, including invasive infections, such as bacteremia/sepsis and meningitis, as well as pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections. Although all age groups may be affected, the highest rate of pneumococcal disease occurs in young children and older adults. In addition, persons suffering from a wide range of chronic conditions (eg, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and immune deficiencies are at increased risk.

Viral vs Bacterial Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which affects alveoli. This article looks at the differences between bacterial and viral pneumonia.

Pneumonia Symptoms & Risk Factors

Pneumonia Classification

Pneumonia Cause

Pneumonia in Children

Pneumonia Diagnosis

Pneumonia Treatment

Pneumonia Epidemiology

Pneumonia History

Walking Pneumonia

Is Walking Pneumonia Contagious?

Walking Pneumonia versus Pneumonia

See more featured articles »

Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold

Walking Pneumonia Versus Bronchitis

Who Gets Walking Pneumonia?

Types of Atypical Pneumonia

How is Walking Pneumonia Treated?

Walking Pneumonia: When to See a Doctor?

Risk Factors and Walking Pneumonia Prevention

Is Sense of Smell Linked to Pneumonia?

Latest Pneumonia News and Research

Amoxicillin outperforms penicillin V in treating pediatric pneumonia, study finds

A recent study confirmed amoxicillin's lower risk of treatment failure compared to penicillin V in treating pediatric pneumonia, with no difference in severe complications.

18 Jun 2024

Pediatric RSV infections surged 2017-23, straining U.S. hospitals

A recent study found a significant post-pandemic surge in pediatric RSV infections, with increased hospitalizations and respiratory support needs, especially among older children.

18 Jun 2024

Global study confirms pantoprazole's role in reducing upper GI bleeding in the ICU

A widely available drug helps prevent upper gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill adults on a breathing machine, according to the results of a global study and meta-analysis led by researchers at McMaster University.

14 Jun 2024

Study identifies drug target to prevent autonomic dysfunction after spinal cord injury

In response to stressful or dangerous stimuli, nerve cells in the spinal cord activate involuntary, autonomic reflexes often referred to as "fight or flight" responses.

12 Jun 2024

Multi-center study validates systemic score in identifying high-risk patients with Still's disease

A multi-centre, observational, prospective study was designed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the systemic score in predicting life-threatening evolution – defined as the development of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) and/or mortality.

12 Jun 2024

UC San Diego engineers develop algae-based microrobots for lung cancer treatment

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed microscopic robots, known as microrobots, capable of swimming through the lungs to deliver cancer-fighting medication directly to metastatic tumors.

12 Jun 2024

Study identifies genetic predictors of X chromosome loss in aging women

Researchers have identified inherited genetic variants that may predict the loss of one copy of a woman's two X chromosomes as she ages, a phenomenon known as mosaic loss of chromosome X, or mLOX.

12 Jun 2024

Low-cost quality improvement program lowers mortality in El Salvador's pediatric ICU

Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in low and middle-income countries see elevated mortality rates, often 10 times higher than those in high-income countries.

12 Jun 2024

Unveiling Pseudomonas aeruginosa's lung invasion tactics with human lung microtissues

How do pathogens invade the lungs? Using human lung microtissues, a team at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel has uncovered the strategy used by a dangerous pathogen.

10 Jun 2024

New AI camera technology could offer a future tool for quickly assessing the severity of infections

It might soon be possible to measure a patient’s pulse, breathing, and blood pressure simply by scanning their face.

5 Jun 2024

Discovery of antibiotic lolamicin that targets deadly bacteria without harming gut microbiome

Researchers discovered lolamicin, a selective Gram-negative antibiotic, effective against multidrug-resistant pathogens while sparing the gut microbiome.

4 Jun 2024

New antibiotic lolamicin shows promise in fighting drug-resistant infections

Researchers have developed a new antibiotic that reduced or eliminated drug-resistant bacterial infections in mouse models of acute pneumonia and sepsis while sparing healthy microbes in the mouse gut.

29 May 2024

Study reveals ferroptosis as a major driver of severe COVID-19 lung damage

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death mechanism, is identified as a key factor in severe COVID-19 lung disease, suggesting potential new therapeutic targets.

22 May 2024

4 ways vaccine skeptics mislead you on measles and more

Measles is on the rise in the United States. So far this year, the number of cases is about 17 times what it was, on average, during the same period in each of the four years before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

22 May 2024

Health experts call for tighter biosecurity measures to monitor avian influenza

Health experts are calling for tighter biosecurity measures in global poultry production, from farms to markets, to monitor bird flu (avian influenza) following its spread among 888 cases of human infection with the avian influenza virus, also known as H5N1, have been reported from 23 countries, of which 463 were fatal, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

21 May 2024

Columbia researchers link ferroptosis to COVID-19 lung disease

In some severe cases of COVID-19, the lungs undergo extreme damage, resulting in a range of life-threatening conditions like pneumonia, inflammation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

20 May 2024

Breakthrough study shows benefits of diagnosing hidden respiratory diseases

Finding and treating people with undiagnosed asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improved their health and reduced their healthcare visits for respiratory symptoms in the year after diagnosis, according to a world-first clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

20 May 2024

Hospital diversity linked to higher mortality rates for ventilated patients

The odds of death for patients receiving mechanical ventilation for pneumonia or sepsis increase along with the diversity of hospitals' patient populations, suggesting more systemic factors such as lack of resources and income levels may be to blame, according to research published at the ATS 2024 International Conference.

20 May 2024

Researchers develop pathoblockers to combat bacterial pneumonia toxins

In most cases, antibiotics are a reliable form of protection against bacterial infections. They have saved billions of human lives since their introduction.

16 May 2024