Key Highlights: 

• Multifocal pneumonia involves infection in more than one area of the lungs. 
• Caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections and affects immunocompromised patients.  
• Symptoms vary between individuals, but common symptoms include cough, fever, and difficulty breathing.  
• Early diagnosis is essential for effective management and better outcomes.  
• Management options include antibiotics, antiviral, or antifungal medications, as well as supportive care. 
• Methods to reduce the risk involve vaccination, hand hygiene, smoking cessation, and maintaining overall good health. 
   

Introduction 

Multifocal pneumonia affects more than one area of the lung. Learning about multifocal pneumonia can help detect symptoms and select management options. 

In this article, we’ll explore causes, risk factors, symptoms, and management options. By the end, you’ll know more about this type of pneumonia and how it’s different from others. Lastly, we will answer some frequently asked questions regarding this topic.  

Overview of Pneumonia 

Pneumonia is an illness that makes your lung air sacs inflamed. It fills them with fluid or pus. This triggers coughing, fever, and difficulty in breathing. The different kinds of pneumonia are as follows.  

• Community-acquired pneumonia 

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) occurs outside of healthcare zones. Bacteria, viruses, or fungi can cause it. It can take place on its own or occur after a cold or flu. 

• Hospital-acquired pneumonia 

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) also called nosocomial infection is an infection acquired during a hospital stay. It’s more severe due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and some patients’ health issues. 

• Aspiration pneumonia 

When substances like food, drink,  saliva, or vomit get breathed into the lungs, aspiration pneumonia can occur. It is more common in those with problems swallowing or a gag reflex. 

What is Multifocal Pneumonia? 

Multifocal pneumonia is specific pneumonia with infections in more than one lung area. It can happen inside the same lobe or across different ones. Microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi cause it. Those with weaker immune systems are more at risk. 

Causes of Multifocal Pneumonia 

The causes of multifocal pneumonia are as follows.  

• COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or influenza virus, among other viral infections. 
• Bacterial infections like Streptococcus pneumoniae or Legionella pneumophila.  
• Fungal infections such as pneumocystis pneumonia or cryptococcus. 
   

Risk factors 

If you are older, you smoke, have chronic lung diseases (COPD/ bronchial asthma), or have a weakened immune system (as in the case of HIV/AIDS, organ transplant, or cancer patients), then you are at a higher risk of getting multifocal pneumonia. 

Symptoms of Multifocal Pneumonia 

Multifocal pneumonia symptoms can change from person to person. Yet, there are a few usual symptoms which are as follows.  

• A cough which could be full of phlegm 
• Fever and chills  
• Shortness of breath   
• Pain in the chest when breathing or coughing 
• Fatigue and weakness  
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea 
   

When to see a doctor? 

Seeing a doctor is important. You must do so when: 

• You are having trouble breathing or feeling chest pain. 
• You develop uncontrolled, high fever (102 F / 39 C or more).  
• You have cough that lasts a long time or has pus-filled phlegm. 
   

Diagnosis of Multifocal Pneumonia 

Multifocal pneumonia is diagnosed by things like a physical check-up, scanning with machines, and laboratory tests. 

• Physical examination 

A healthcare professional will check your medical history, symptoms, and risk factors when they examine you. They may listen to lung sounds to find any issues. 

• Imaging tests 

Scanning with machines, like the chest X-ray or CT scan, detects  pneumonia. It shows how bad it is. 

• Laboratory tests 

Laboratory tests like blood tests or sputum culture help find the cause of pneumonia. This helps in deciding the  management option. 

Managing Multifocal Pneumonia 

Multifocal pneumonia management will depend on its cause. A mix of medicines and supportive care helps.  

• Role of antibiotics, antiviral, and antifungal medications 

• For bacterial infections, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic medications. 
• In the case of viral infections, antiviral medications may be recommended.  
• If the infection is fungal, antifungal medications are suggested. 
   

• Hospitalisation and supportive care 

Bad cases of multifocal pneumonia can require a stay in the hospital. They may also need added care, like 

• Making sure the body has enough oxygen with “Oxygen therapy” 
• Hydration and balance of electrolytes in the body with “Intravenous fluids” 
   

• Risk reduction of Multifocal Pneumonia 

You may reduce the risk by following certain steps. These include: 

• Vaccination 
• Keeping hands clean  
• Saying no to smoking  
• Having good healthy habits overall 
   

Complications of Multifocal Pneumonia 

Multifocal pneumonia can have serious fallouts if not treated soon and well. These can be: 

• Difficulty of lungs to give enough oxygen to the blood and organs. 
• Infection of the whole body when bacteria enter the bloodstream that can cause organs to fail.  
• Dead white blood cells, form pus-filled cavities in the lung, needing drainage or surgery. 
   

Conclusion 

Knowing the symptoms, causes, and management of multifocal pneumonia will aid in handling and avoiding it.   Detecting it early and managing it avoids more health problems. Staying healthy and having good habits may help avoid this kind of pneumonia. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

References:  

1. American Lung Association. How Lungs Work | American Lung Association [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/how-lungs-work 

2. Medscape eMedicine. Focal and Multifocal Lung Disease — Answer [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.medscape.com/content/2003/00/46/50/465070/ans11.html 

3. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Multifocal Pneumonia Amidst the Global COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case of Daptomycin-Induced Eosinophilic Pneumonia – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8318610 

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