Читать книгу Emergency Medical Services - Группа авторов - Страница 149

In general, there are few specific field interventions for patients who are determined to have pulmonary infectious causes of their shortness of breath. Pneumonia treatment guidelines are universally focused on prompt diagnosis and early treatment with antibiotics.

Pneumonia should be considered in patients with cough with or without fever. It is important to note that some of these diseases can be highly contagious, and it is recommended that personal respiratory protection (e.g., an N95 mask to protect against novel viruses as well as tuberculosis) is maintained when evaluating a respiratory distress patient who is suspected of having an infectious etiology. Treatment of these patients will typically consist of oxygen, NIPPV (if ventilation support is needed to improve oxygenation further), IV fluids (if hypotensive), and transport. Patients with known asthma or COPD who have reactive airways in response to infection may also benefit from bronchodilators. Many pneumonia patients may also wheeze from underlying small airways infectious inflammatory processes and hence may respond to inhaled bronchodilators.