What is the bacteria that causes bacterial pneumonia?

Answer 1

There are actually several different pathogens that cause bacterial pneumonia, which is the 7th leading cause of death in the US. Pneumococcal pneumonia is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is when the alveoli of the lungs fill with fluids and interferes with oxygen uptake. Treatment includes penicillins or fluroquinolones. Next is Haemophilus influenze pneumonia, which is caused by Haemophilus influenzaebacteria...and the name is deceiving -- it was named influenza before it was correctly identified as a strain of pneumonia and the name just stuck. H. influenze causes sypmtoms similar to S. pnuemoniae, but it is not suseptable to penicillan -- treatment for this strain is cephalosporins. Next is the Mycoplasmal pneumonia, which is caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Symptoms include headache, low grade fever, cough -- generally mild but persistent respioratory symptoms. Treatment is tetracyclines. Legionellosis (caused by Legionella pneumophila) is a potentially fatal pneumonia that is seen more often in older males who drink or smoke heavily, and can be passed in water. Treatment includes erythromycin. Psittacosis (ornoithosis) is caused by Chlamydophila psittaci, and symptoms are very mild and include fever, headache and chills. This pathogen is also handled by tetracyclines. Chlamydial pneumonia is caused by the Chlamydophila pneumoniae bacterium, has mild respiratory illness common in young people and resembles mycoplasmal pneumonia with low fever, cough and headache. Treatment includes tetracyclines. Finally, Q Fever, which is caused by Coxiella burnetii. This strain shows mild respiratory disease which lasts 1-2 weeks, and sometimes is complicated by endocarditis. This one can be passed by animals and/or ticks as well as unpasteurized mild. Treatment includes Doxycycline and chloroquine.

Answer 2

Pneumonia is a caused by a number of baceteria and viruses, as well as fungi and parasites.

Answer 3

The bacteria causing pneumonia is called streptococcus pneumoniae.

Answer 4

Pneumonia is a general term for infection of the lung. It can be caused by any type of pathogen.

Answer 5

Streptococcus pneumoniae is only one type of pneumonia-causing organisms, although a common cause. There are too many bacteria that can cause pneumonia to list them all.

Answer 6

Dozens of different bacteria can cause bacterial pneumonia.

Answer 7

Streptococcus pneumoniae