Pleuropneumonia

Physical examination: normosthenic, body temperature 38°C, vesicular breathing, weakened on the right base of lungs, no side breathing noises, abdomen sensitive of under right rib cage
Inflammatory markers: CRP 144.63 ml/L, PCT 4.580 ug/L
Other laboratory findings: Alb 34.6 g/L, Total proteins 58.4 g/L, K 3.0 mmol/L
Hemogram: Hgb 9.28 g/dL, RBC 3.72 x10⁹ /L, HCT 0.28, MCV 74.74 fL, MCH 24.9 pg - microcytic anemia
WBC 13.20x10⁹ /L, Neu abs 11.89 x10⁹ /L, Ly abs 0.59 x10⁹ /L, Neu 90.1%, Ly 4.45% - leucocytosis with neutrophilia
Serology: in urine positivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen, in serum Candida manan antigen positivity
We did not verified an invasive candida, but with positive Candida-mannan antigen in serum, antibiotic treatment combined with antimycotic to cover the entire proven flora, keeping it in the treatment within 7 days. Serology for chlamydia and mycoplasma was also performed, the result was negative.

Chest X-ray:
- Posteroanterior on admission: large, diffusely homogenous merging infiltrates in lower and partially middle right pulmonary lobe, cranially limited by horizontal fissure, right diaphragm and costophrenic angle indistinguishable (Figure 1)

- Posteroanterior on follow-up – 8 days later: partial regression of infiltration shadow, unveiling streaky shadow in the whole width of hemithorax, right diaphragm covered by homogenous cranially pulled shadow, probably of pleural origin (Figure 2)
- Left lateral on follow-up – 8 days later: shadow of pleural origin filling anterior angle, from where the shadow is pulled cranially and dorsally toward hilus, its width ranging from 4 to 2.5 cm, and reaching supraphrenically in width 3.5 cm to several mm in posterior angle (Figure 3)

ceftriaxon, ciprofloxacine, fluconazol, metamizol, nadroparine, potassium chloride, rehabilitation
Laboraty findings after therapy:
Inflammatory markers: CRP 23.85 ml/L
Hemogram: WBC 6.12x10⁹ /L, Neu abs 3.55 x10⁹ /L, Ly abs 1.59 x10⁹ /L, Neu 58.1%, Ly 26.05%

Pleuropneumonia lateris dextri
Moderate microcytic anemia
Hypokaliemia
Hypoproteinemia

Pneumonia infection is the result of a complex process where the lower respiratory tract suffers the invasion of an infective microorganism. Pneumonia can be acquired in the community or acquired in the hospital environment, and can be transmitted by the aspiration of a pathogenic microorganism or by inhalation of a pathogenic microorganism.

Common respiratory symptoms of pneumonia include cough, often with sputum production or haemoptysis, dyspnoea, and pleuritic pain, non-respiratory symptoms like fever, myalgia, joint pains and herpes are also frequent.
Assessment of severity is crucial for decision whether treatment is conducted in outpatient setting or in hospital ward. Radiographic findings, comorbidities and physical examination findings should be considered. Several scoring systems were developed in order to aid the judgment such as PSI (pneumonia severity index) or CURB-65 (Figure 4 and 5).

Although microbiological diagnosis of CAP is fundamental to ensure appropriate antibiotic therapy, microbial diagnosis of pneumonia is achieved in less than 50% of cases and antimicrobial therapy should be empirically administered in order to avoid the delay in establishing appropriate therapy, associated with significant mortality.
Microbiological diagnosis of CAP continues to be based on respiratory samples or blood culture. The main problems with these conventional methods are the low yield and long turnaround time (48–72 h) and the fact that previous antibiotic use affects microbiological results. According to CAP guidelines, an optional microbiological diagnostic test in low to mild cases of CAP is recommended and in special situations it should be preferred. In the case of severe CAP it is recommended to take blood cultures, sputum staining, sputum culture, and the urinary antigen test for Legionella and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Globally, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is the most common pathogen causing community-acquired pneumonia, usually presented with acute symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection, historically called “typical presentation”. Pneumococcus was considered one of the 9 bacteria of international concern in the recent worldwide report of global antibiotic resistance published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014.
Estimated prevalence of 19.3% to 34% was reported for S. pneumoniae in Europe. The diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia has increased significantly in recent years, mainly due to the introduction of the pneumococcal urine antigen test (routinely available from 2000 in most countries).

Performing blood cultures in patients before a previous antimicrobial treatment has a high specificity but a low positivity (less than 20% of the cases). Sputum sample collection is performed before patients initiate antimicrobial therapy (Figure 6).

To increase the microbiological diagnostic accuracy an adequate collection and transport of samples is recommended; a good quality sample is considered when the sputum sample contains less than 10 epithelial cells and more than 25 lymphocyte cells. Pneumococcal antigens are renally excreted and can be detected in urine. This detection is not affected by the use of previous antimicrobial therapy. Sensitivity for pneumococcus detection ranges from 50% to 80% with reported specificity of 70% to 90%.

Treatment for pneumonia includes antimicrobial therapy, supportive therapy, oxygen, and sometimes mechanical ventilation.
Patient presented in this case suffered from pneumonia with pleural reaction. Her general practitioner referred her to hospital because infiltration on chest X-ray included more than one pulmonary field. There was positivity of streptococcal antigen in urine, thus she was treated with antibiotics (cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone combined) and antimycotic therapy due to positivity of Candida antigen. Only partial resolution was visible on radiograph after 8 days of treatment but clinical status and laboratory findings were drastically improved. Total duration of antibiotic therapy was 14 days with recommendation of follow-up X-ray after the therapy.