Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a leading cause of death and hospitalization, costing health care systems billions of dollars and an estimated 600,000 adult deaths worldwide each year. Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and the term describes a group of illnesses, including invasive infections, such as bacteremia/sepsis and meningitis, as well as pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections. Although all age groups may be affected, the highest rate of pneumococcal disease occurs in young children and older adults. In addition, persons suffering from a wide range of chronic conditions (eg, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and immune deficiencies are at increased risk.

Viral vs Bacterial Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which affects alveoli. This article looks at the differences between bacterial and viral pneumonia.

Pneumonia Symptoms & Risk Factors

Pneumonia Classification

Pneumonia Cause

Pneumonia in Children

Pneumonia Diagnosis

Pneumonia Treatment

Pneumonia Epidemiology

Pneumonia History

Walking Pneumonia

Is Walking Pneumonia Contagious?

Walking Pneumonia versus Pneumonia

See more featured articles »

Walking Pneumonia Versus Common Cold

Walking Pneumonia Versus Bronchitis

Who Gets Walking Pneumonia?

Types of Atypical Pneumonia

How is Walking Pneumonia Treated?

Walking Pneumonia: When to See a Doctor?

Risk Factors and Walking Pneumonia Prevention

Is Sense of Smell Linked to Pneumonia?

Latest Pneumonia News and Research

Air pollution and cold temperatures drive bronchiectasis mortality in vulnerable populations

Researchers investigate how short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and temperature affects bronchiectasis mortality rates in China.

26 Nov 2024

A prospective study of antibiotic use and clinical factors in patients with suspected pneumonia

This study explored how chest X-ray results influence antibiotic initiation by general practitioners in France when managing patients with suspected pneumonia.

26 Nov 2024

New AI model tailors phage treatment for resistant bacterial infections

With the rapid development of antibiotics in the 1930s, phage therapy – using viruses known as bacteriophages or phages to tackle bacterial infections – fell into oblivion.

25 Nov 2024

New approach to stabilize RSV protein could lead to better vaccines

In most people, the lung-infecting pathogens known as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) trigger mild cold-like symptoms. But in infants and seniors, these viruses can cause severe pneumonia and even death.

20 Nov 2024

AI explanations in radiology can lead to over-reliance

When making diagnostic decisions, radiologists and other physicians may rely too much on artificial intelligence (AI) when it points out a specific area of interest in an X-ray, according to a study published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

19 Nov 2024

Study investigates impact of oxygen therapy on oxidative stress in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Severe COVID-19 pneumonia often requires high concentrations of oxygen, which can potentially lead to oxidative stress and lung injury.

19 Nov 2024

Phase 2 study evaluates safety and efficacy of asunercept in COVID-19 patients

The ASUNCTIS trial evaluated asunercept's safety and efficacy in COVID-19, showing trends toward faster recovery despite not meeting statistical significance.

18 Nov 2024

Zinc deficiency linked to increased risk of lung infection

Dietary zinc deficiency promotes lung infection by Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria -; a leading cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia, according to a new study published Nov. 15 in the journal Nature Microbiology.

15 Nov 2024

NIH awards $3.96 million to develop combination therapies for superbugs

Gram-negative bacteria pose a serious threat to global health because they can resist multiple antibiotics, making infections difficult to treat, according to the National Institutes of Health.

15 Nov 2024

Measles outbreaks increase worldwide with inadequate immunization coverage

Worldwide, there were an estimated 10.3 million cases of measles in 2023, a 20% increase from 2022, according to new estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Inadequate immunization coverage globally is driving the surge in cases.

14 Nov 2024

Study shows RSV’s severe impact on US adults, urging more testing and vaccination

RSV hospitalizations in US adults reached high levels pre-vaccine, especially impacting those 75 and older, underscoring the need for awareness and prevention efforts.

14 Nov 2024

Maternal RSV vaccination timing optimizes newborn immunity through improved antibody transfer

Maternal RSV vaccination enhances antibody transfer to newborns, with optimal transfer efficiency observed when given at least five weeks before delivery.

14 Nov 2024

Next-generation metagenomic sequencing test quickly detects any kind of pathogen

Next-generation metagenomic sequencing test developed at UCSF proves its effectiveness in quickly diagnosing almost any kind of pathogen.

12 Nov 2024

New antibiotic-resistant bacteria strain may be spreading across Asia

A virulent new strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that causes severe disease could be spreading widely across Asia - posing significant challenges to global public health, a new study reveals.

7 Nov 2024

Study finds high risk of pediatric tuberculosis in high-burden areas

New findings also indicate that children who live in settings with a high burden of TB have a consistently high annual risk of developing TB infection throughout childhood.

5 Nov 2024

Critical protein linked to spillover potential of animal viruses

Scientists investigating animal viruses with potential to infect humans have identified a critical protein that could enable spillover of a family of organisms called arteriviruses.

1 Nov 2024

Trump wants Harris to pay a political price for generous immigrant health policies

Maria Sanchez immigrated to the Chicago area from Mexico about 30 years ago. Now 87, she's still living in the U.S. without authorization. Like many longtime immigrants, she has worked — and paid taxes, including Medicare taxes — all that time.

1 Nov 2024

New study confirms: Anti-inflammatory inhalers reduce severe asthma complications

This study highlights the benefits of anti-inflammatory inhalers in asthma management, showing reduced complications and modest improvements in symptom control.

30 Oct 2024

Machine learning reveals distinct clinical states in pneumonia patients

Two patients being treated for pneumonia, an infection that causes difficulty breathing due to fluid-filled sacs in the lungs, can look vastly different and have opposing outcomes. Yet doctors struggle to accurately predict patients' prognoses and determine the most effective treatments.

29 Oct 2024