Skip to content

Bacterial tracheitis

Videos

Notes

Respiratory system

Pathology

Upper respiratory tract disorders
Lower respiratory tract disorders
Pleura and pleural space disorders
Pulmonary vascular disorders
Apnea and hypoventilation
Respiratory system pathology review
High Yield Notes
8 pages
Summary

Bacterial tracheitis is a serious infection of the subglottic trachea, most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Haemophilus influenzae. People with bacterial tracheitis can present with fever, painful cough with thick secretions, stridor, and tenderness of the trachea. Bacterial tracheitis results in severe exudative inflammation of the airway, which can lead to airway obstruction. Other complications include pneumonia, sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and death.