Pneumonia is a major cause of sickness and death in the Black American community. A post by Jay Harold states that over 5500 Black Americans died of Pneumonia and the Influenza in 2015. This post,”Treatment for 3 Types of Pneumonia: 8 Meds to Know,” gives an overview of some medications used in the treatment of Pneumonia. As always, your doctor will develop an individual treatment plan for each patient.

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of the lungs. Many germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, can cause pneumonia. You can also get pneumonia by inhaling a liquid or chemical. People most at risk are older than 65 or younger than 2 years of age or already have health problems.

Antibiotics are Used to Treat Pneumonia

Antibiotics¹ are powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections. Used correctly, antibiotics can save lives. They either kill bacteria or keep them from reproducing. Your body’s natural defenses can usually take it from there.

What are Bacteria?

Bacteria² are living things that have only one cell. Under a microscope, they look like balls, rods, or spirals. They are so small that a line of 1,000 could fit across a pencil eraser. Most bacteria won’t hurt you – less than 1 percent of the different types make people sick. Many are helpful. Some bacteria help to digest food, destroy disease-causing cells, and give the body needed vitamins. Bacteria are also used in making healthy foods like yogurt and cheese.

But infectious bacteria can make you ill. They reproduce quickly in your body. Many give off chemicals called toxins, which can damage tissue and make you sick. Examples of bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli.

Antibiotics do not fight infections caused by viruses, such as

• Colds
• Flu
• Most coughs and bronchitis
• Sore throats, unless caused by strep

If a virus is making you sick, taking antibiotics may do more harm than good. Using antibiotics when you don’t need them, or not using them properly, can add to antibiotic resistance. This happens when bacteria change and become able to resist the effects of an antibiotic.

When you take antibiotics, follow the directions carefully. It is important to finish your medicine even if you feel better. If you stop treatment too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect you. Do not save antibiotics for later or use someone else’s prescription.

Drugs Used to Treat  Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)

Community-acquired pneumonia develops in people with limited or no contact with medical institutions or settings.

1. Azithromycin³ is used to treat certain bacterial infections, such as bronchitis; pneumonia; sexually transmitted diseases (STD); and infections of the ears, lungs, sinuses, skin, throat, and reproductive organs. Azithromycin also is used to treat or prevent disseminated Mycobacterium aviumcomplex (MAC) infection [a type of lung infection that often affects people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)]. Azithromycin is in a class of medications called macrolide antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
2. Rocephin. Ceftriaxone⁴ injection is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria such as gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted disease), pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the female reproductive organs that may cause infertility), meningitis (infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), and infections of the lungs, ears, skin, urinary tract, blood, bones, joints, and abdomen. Ceftriaxone injection is also sometimes given before certain types of surgery to prevent infections that may develop after the operation. Ceftriaxone injection is in a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria.

CAP with Pseudomonas

CAP with Pseudomonas infection is caused by strains of bacteria found widely in the environment; the most common type causing infections in humans is called Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

1. Piperacillin and tazobactam⁵ (Zosyn) injection is used to treat pneumonia and skin, gynecological, and abdominal (stomach area) infections caused by bacteria. Piperacillin is in a class of medications called penicillin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria that cause infection. Tazobactam is in a class called beta-lactamase inhibitor. It works by preventing bacteria from destroying piperacillin.Antibiotics such as piperacillin and tazobactam injection will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Taking or using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
2. Cefepime⁶ injection (Maxipime^®) is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria including pneumonia, and skin, urinary tract, and kidney infections. Cefepime injection is used in combination with metronidazole (Flagyl) to treat abdominal (stomach area) infections. Cefepime injection is also used to treat patients who have a fever and are at high risk for infection because they have a low number of white blood cells. Cefepime injection is in a class of medications called cephalosporin antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria.
3. Levofloxacin⁷ injection is used to treat infections such as pneumonia; and kidney, prostate (a male reproductive gland), and skin infections. Levofloxacin injection is also used to prevent anthrax (a serious infection that may be spread on purpose as part of a bioterror attack) in people who may have been exposed to anthrax germs in the air and treat and prevent plague (a serious infection that may be spread on purpose as part of a bioterror attack. Levofloxacin may also be used to treat bronchitis, sinus infections, or urinary tract infections but should not be used for bronchitis and certain types of urinary tract infections if there are other treatment options available. Levofloxacin injection is in a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. It works by killing bacteria that cause infections.
4. Tobramycin⁸ injection is used to treat certain serious infections that are caused by bacteria such as meningitis (infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) and infections of the blood, abdomen (stomach area), lungs, skin, bones, joints, and urinary tract. Tobramycin injection is in a class of medications called aminoglycoside antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria.
5. Azithromycin

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It causes a staph infection (pronounced “staff infection”) that is resistant to several common antibiotics. There are two types of infection. Hospital-associated MRSA happens to people in healthcare settings. Community-associated MRSA happens to people who have close skin-to-skin contact with others, such as athletes involved in football and wrestling.

1. Vancomycin⁹ injection is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat certain serious infections such as endocarditis (infection of the heart lining and valves), peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the abdomen), and infections of the lungs, skin, blood, and bones. Vancomycin injection is in a class of medications called glycopeptide antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria that cause infections.
2. Linezolid¹⁰ is used to treat infections, including pneumonia, and infections of the skin and blood. Linezolid is in a class of antibacterials called oxazolidinones. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, and other viral infections.

Pneumonia claimed the lives of 51,811 Americans in 2015 according to a National Vital Statistics Report¹¹.  Jay Harold hopes that this post,”Treatment for 3 Types of Pneumonia: 8 Meds to Know,” helps increase your medical knowledge.

Enjoyed this post? Share it and read more here.  Jay Harold has put together a Resource page that you may find useful when trying to improve your health and wealth. Please take this advice from  Muhammad Ali and give back to others. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

Bibliography

1. https://medlineplus.gov/antibiotics.html
2. https://medlineplus.gov/bacterialinfections.html
3. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697037.html
4. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a685032.html
5. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a694003.html
6. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a698021.html
7. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601154.html
8. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a681003.html
9. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601167.html
10. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a602004.html
11. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr66/nvsr66_06_tables.pdf (Page 47)

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