There are many ways in which bacteria that cause nosocomial pneumonia can be transmitted. Pathogenesis can be caused by aspiration or inhalation of aerosolized particles containing the bacteria. Colonization of gram negative bacteria in the pharynx, increased gastric pH and contaminated equipment are the primary sources of pathogenesis. Nosocomial bacterial pneumonia is often difficult to diagnose . Many times pneumonia is diagnosed by radiological examination when broncho-alveolar lavage and protected brush samples do not culture for bacterial presence.
Bacterial pneumonia can be just as difficult to prevent as it is to treat.
Actions that can be taken to decrease the risk include rinsing small volume nebulizers with sterile water and letting them air dry between treatments, sterilizing or disinfecting multiple patient use equipment such as respirometers and oxygen sensors, routinely verifying nasogastric tube placement, routinely assessing gastric motility through auscultation of bowel sounds and checking of residual volumes, and suctioning above the tracheal cuff on endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes. Symptoms appear abruptly and include chills, fever, productive cough, severe chest pain, dyspnea, cyanosis, jaundice, vomiting, and diarrhea.