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Slow Resolution of Pneumonia
- Pneumonia infiltrates can take weeks to resolve on chest x-rays, even after symptoms improve.
- The organism causing the pneumonia influences the resolution speed, with Legionella and bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia being the slowest.
Composition of Early Pneumonia Infiltrates
- Early pneumonia infiltrates (days 1-4) consist of neutrophils, edema, fibrin, and red blood cells, essentially pus.
- This inflammatory response explains why corticosteroids might help in severe pneumonia cases.
Shift in Immune Cells
- Around day five, bacteria are usually gone, and neutrophils are no longer the primary immune cell.
- Macrophages become the dominant cell type, initiating the cleanup process.