Approach to Care

Approach to Care

One of the causes of pneumonia is mucor infection. Mucor refers to a mold that grows very fast and that can be found both inside the house and outdoors. Mucor can be found in decaying organic matter and its infection progresses very quickly (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2013). The end of mucor stalks has spherical structures which contain spores. Human exposure to mucor occurs when these spheres rupture, dispersing the spores into the air. The dispersed spores can also spread through water and therefore, leaking plumbing in homes facilitates the growth and spreading of the mold. Mucor grows into a fluffy gray or white mold. Infection takes place when individuals inhale the mucor spores. A patient is infected when mucor gains access to the individuals’ mucous membranes of the nose and lungs (CDC, 2013). These organisms multiply and invade the blood vessels. The patient experiences symptoms such as cough, fever and chest pain and this indicates the development of the infection into pneumonia. One of the nursing interventions for a patient with pneumonia is oxygen therapy which is aimed at maintaining the patients’ saturation. Rehydration of patients with dehydration signs can also be useful in making it easier for them to expectorate secretions. Patients should also undergo medication therapy tailored to the organism responsible for causing the pneumonia (CDC, 2013). The patient should take antifungal medication to treat the mucor infection.

Some of the laboratory values from the blood tests and arterial blood gases are abnormal.

The pH is 7.50 and is therefore slightly higher than the normal 7.35-7.45. Therefore, the patient is experiencing alkalosis. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCo2) is lower than normal. Therefore, the patient is experiencing respiratory alkalosis since the pH is higher than normal while the PaCO2 is lower (American Thoracic Society, 2014). PaCO2 and pH change in the opposite direction in respiratory disorders. Respiratory alkalosis refers to low carbon dioxide levels resulting from excessive breathing. Rapid breathing or hyperventilation is the main cause of respiratory alkalosis. Hyperventilation causes the quick expulsion of carbon dioxide from the blood. This leads to a rise in pH levels (American Thoracic Society, 2014). Pneumonia is one of the causes of respiratory alkalosis. Hyperventilation also lowers the PaCO2. The partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) is also lower. Low PaO2 is as a result of hypoventilation or slow breathing. A fasting glucose level that is higher than normal indicates that the patient is at risk of type 2 diabetes. This condition is referred to as hyperglycemia. High glucose levels in pneumonia patients increase their risk of complications and mortality. Lymphocytes are lower than normal and this condition is called lymphopenia. The white blood cell count is higher than normal. This indicates the presence of an infection. The purpose of white blood cells is to fight infections in the body and therefore, they increase when an infection occurs (Sircar, 2008).

Several medications can be prescribed for this patient. A high number of white blood cells indicate that there is an infection. A pneumonia infection from mucor can be treated using antifungal drugs. Moreover, insulin can be used to reduce the fasting glucose levels. Hyperglycemia can be treated using medications such as meglitinide analogs and sulfonylureas in order to stimulate the secretion of insulin (Sircar, 2008). The patient can also undergo several medical treatments. Patients suffering from respiratory alkalosis can be treated by breathing using a mask or into a paper bag to help them breathe in the carbon dioxide (Sircar, 2008). This increases the levels of carbon dioxide in the body and relieves symptoms such as dizziness and lightheadedness. Blood glucose levels can also be reduced through a proper diet plan. Respiratory alkalosis resulting from lung disease can be treated using medications (Sircar, 2008). Fungal pneumonia can also be treated through surgical debridement, which is the removal of the tissues that are affected.

References

American Thoracic Society (2014). Interpretation of arterial blood gases. Retrieved January 22, 2014 from http://www.thoracic.org/clinical/critical-care/clinical-education/abgs.php

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2013). Sources of Mucormycosis. Retrieved January 22, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/mucormycosis/causes.html

Sircar, S. (2008). Principles of Medical Physiology. New York: Thieme Publishers. Retrieved January 22, 2014 from http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=zFl7y5xqHj4C&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=Principles+of+Medical+Physiology&source=bl&ots=wwm7dyYs24&sig=gF98YVBbDRE1uinhuaQ5j2zqD4Y&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Wa7fUviSIondsgbRmIHAAQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Principles%20of%20Medical%20Physiology&f=false

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