(Collapsed, airless alveoli) of one or part of one lobe may occur. These areas may clear with effective deep breathing and coughing.
Pleurisy
Inflammation of the pleura
Pleural effusion
Fluid in the pleural space
Bacteremia
(Bacterial infection in the blood) is more likely to occur in infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae
Pneumothorax
Can occur when air collects in the pleural space, causing the lungs to collapse
Meningitis
Can be caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
The patient with pneumonia who is disoriented, confused, or drowsy may have a lumbar puncture to evaluate the possibility of meningitis.
Acute respiratory failure
One of the leading causes of death in patients with severe pneumonia.
Failure occurs when pneumonia damages the lungs’ ability to facilitate the exchange of O2 and CO2 across the alveolar-capillary membrane.
Sepsis/septic shock
Can occur when bacteria within alveoli enter the bloodstream. Severe sepsis can lead to shock and multisystem organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)
Lung abscess
Not a common complication of pneumonia.
It may occur with pneumonia caused by S. aureus and gram-negative organisms
Empyema
The accumulation of purulent exudate in the pleural cavity, occurs in less than 5% of cases and requires antibiotic therapy and drainage of the exudate by a chest tube or open surgical drainage