art & science clinical practice
Pneumonia: classification,diagnosis and nursing managementDunn L (2005) Pneumonia: classification, diagnosis and nursing management. Nursing Standard.19, 042, 50-54. Date of acceptance: March 29 2005.
SummaryThis article provides an overview of pneumonia as a high-Incidencerespiratory disease of varying severity in the 21st century. Manycases are mild to moderate and patients are successfully treatedwith antibiotics at home and v '^ith no lasting damage to the lungs.Vaccinations for influenza and, more recently, pneumococcalinfections are becoming widely available for vulnerable groups ofpeople, which will help to reduce the incidence of these diseases.However, pneumonia causes death in more severe cases withatypical forms such as Legionnaires' disease and severe acuterespiratory syndrome (SARS) causing fatal outbreaks.AuthorLiz Dunn is clinical nurse manager, haemostasis and thrombosis,Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust London. Email:elizabeth,[email protected]
