Patient/caregiver was instructed regarding measures to practice for preventing contact with pneumonia as follows:
- Pneumococcal bacteria reside in individuals’ nose and throat and can be carried by some individuals without showing symptoms of illness. Infants receive some antibodies to the bacteria from the mother before they were born and so, come with some protection that can last for a few months. But as the maternal antibody levels diminish, the infants become increasingly vulnerable to infection with pneumococcal bacteria. Pneumococcal vaccine is given to children in 4 doses at 2, 4, 6, and 12 through 15 months of age, which offers protection against a wide variety of pneumococcal bacteria causing serious illness, such as, pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. So, all infants must be vaccinated on schedule to help prevent presentation with pneumococcal infections.
- Cigarette smoking is a serious risk factor for infection with pneumococcal pneumonia. History of COPD in smokers can increase this risk further. Smoking disrupts the lining of the respiratory passages in the throat and lungs, which results in increased risk for contacting infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria. This leads to increased chances for presentation with pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis in these individuals. Receiving pneumococcal vaccinations by all smoking adults, as recommended, can help substantially reduce the risk for serious infections, debility, and mortality with the bacteria. Observing compliance with smoking cessation instructions can contribute significantly to disease prevention.
- Getting vaccinated for pneumonia on schedule contributes significantly to prevent severe debility and serious illness due to the bacterium.
- Observing the following measures can help avoid inhalation of infected droplet particles.
