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What To Know About Double Pneumonia: Pope Francis' Recent Health Struggle

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Pope Francis Has Double Pneumonia — Here's What That Means

Pope Francis has been hospitalized for a week with double pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection, conditions that experts say are treatable but can be life-threatening in elderly patients.

Pope Francis, 88, was hospitalized on February 14 at Rome's Gemelli Hospital after developing bronchitis, a condition marked by inflammation of the bronchial tubes in the lungs. He was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, an infection in both lungs, and what's known as a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, which means multiple types of bacteria, viruses, or other organisms are in the lungs.

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The pope has shown improvement in recent days, the Vatican said. He's been up to have breakfast, continues to breathe independently, and his heart remains strong.

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Here's what you need to know about the pope's diagnosis.

What Is Double Pneumonia? Pneumonia develops when a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection causes inflammation and fluid accumulation in the lungs. It can affect one or both lungs, which is called double or bilateral pneumonia.

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Common causes of pneumonia include seasonal flu, COVID-19, and pneumococcal disease. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, fever, and a cough with yellow, green, or bloody mucus. Older adults may also experience symptoms like a sudden change in mental state, appetite loss, and fatigue.

"Pneumonia is a serious infection that can be life-threatening," says Meredith McCormack, MD, an associate professor and director of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

"Older age is a risk factor," Dr. McCormack says. "We often think of over 65 years as a high-risk group, but each year of age adds additional risk of more serious infection."

For an 88-year-old patient like the pope, the mortality rate could be as high as 30 percent, says Peter Chin-Hong, MD, a professor and infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.

"We don't know much about the pope's other medical history or condition at the time of hospitalization, but his age over 80 by itself is a powerful risk factor for doing poorly," Dr. Chin-Hong says.

What Is a Polymicrobial Respiratory Infection?

A polymicrobial respiratory infection could mean the patient has more than one type of bacteria in the respiratory tract, or that the patient has a respiratory virus in addition to at least one type of bacteria in the lungs, Chin-Hong says.

"Having more than one organism diagnosed is not dangerous per se, as long as the patient is being adequately treated with the right antibiotics and/or antivirals, started in a timely fashion," Chin-Hong says.

"One notorious polymicrobial combination is influenza followed by a bacterial infection like Streptococcus pneumoniae — the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia — or Staph aureus," Chin-Hong says.

The Vatican has not disclosed the exact mix of organisms involved in the pope's polymicrobial respiratory infection.

How Is Double Pneumonia Treated?

"Antibiotics or antiviral medications are the mainstay of treatment," McCormack says. "Sometimes we use inhalers or steroids, especially in patients who have a history of asthma or chronic lung disease."

Most people with pneumonia can manage their symptoms at home by drinking lots of fluids, getting plenty of rest, and taking over-the-counter medicines for a fever or cough, according to the American Lung Association. Symptoms like fatigue can linger, however, and a full recovery can sometimes take several weeks or more.

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When pneumonia is so severe that people need to be hospitalized, they may receive intravenous fluids or antibiotics, oxygen therapy, or other breathing treatments, according to the American Lung Association.

"Supportive therapy is important and can include giving supplemental oxygen or even life support when people get very sick," McCormack says. "It does not sound like Pope Francis has required these more intensive therapies, which is encouraging."

Pope Francis Battles Life-threatening Double Pneumonia: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention Tips, Treatment Of Lung Infection

Pope Francis, who has been battling double pneumonia, is showing signs of improvement as he continues his stay at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. The Vatican reported on Wednesday that the 88-year-old pontiff remains in stable condition, with recent blood tests indicating a "slight improvement," particularly in inflammatory markers.

A faithful touches a portrait of Pope Francis during a mass at the Basilica San Jose de Flores to pray for his health in Buenos Aires.(Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)

The Pope was admitted on February 14 after experiencing breathing difficulties for several days. The Vatican had previously said that the Pope had a polymicrobial infection, which occurs when two or more micro-organisms are involved, adding that he would stay in hospital as long as necessary to tackle a "complex clinical situation".

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Caroline Simon, Consultant Pulmonologist at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai's Mira Road, explained, "Double pneumonia is a life-threatening lung infection that takes a toll on both lungs, making it more dangerous than pneumonia which affects only one lung. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi and may raise the risk of complications if not treated at the right time."

Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs days after being hospitalised: Report (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)(AFP)

She elaborated, "This condition is common in children (infants and toddlers) or older adults over 65. Those with lung damage due to infections, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and having a history of smoking are also prone to this condition. It is the need of the hour to seek timely intervention to save the patient's life."

The causes:

Dr Caroline Simon shared, "Double pneumonia can be caused by certain bacterial infections like Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Legionella pneumophila. It can also be caused by viruses like Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and even Covid-19. Those with fungal infections and weakened immune systems may develop pneumonia due to fungi like Pneumocystis jirovecii. Conditions like diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart disease increase one's chances of double pneumonia."

Symptoms:

Dr Caroline Simon revealed, "The signs and symptoms of this fatal condition are persistent cough with mucus (yellow, green, or blood-streaked), high fever, chills, and sweating, shortness of breath and rapid breathing, chest pain that worsens with breathing or coughing, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, and confusion (mainly in older adults). Everyone must note these symptoms and seek timely medical attention."

Pneumonia: This is a life-threatening infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. It causes coughing and is prevented by immunization.(Unsplash) Treatment:

Dr Caroline Simon informed, "After diagnosis through an x-ray sputum test or swab, the expert will decide the line of treatment. To treat this condition, the patient will be advised antibiotics, and antiviral medications and severe cases may require oxygen therapy or hospitalization. The supportive care will be in the form of rest, hydration, and fever-reducing medications. Some patients may also need pulmonary rehabilitation as recommended by the expert."

Preventive measures:

To prevent infections, Dr Caroline Simon suggested, "Everyone should get vaccinated with the pneumococcal vaccine and annual flu shots as suggested by the doctor. Follow good hand hygiene, avoid contact with sick people, eat a balanced diet, exercise daily, do breathing exercises, avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, wear a mask, practice social distancing, avoid crowded places, disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as furniture and faucets, and manage conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and COPD that can lead to double pneumonia."

This latest health scare serves as a reminder that even the most influential figures must prioritise their well-being and it also underscores the importance of recognising respiratory symptoms early, especially for those with underlying conditions. For now, all of Pope Francis' public engagements have been cancelled through Sunday and his official schedule remains on hold. Medical experts remain optimistic, noting that the Vatican's language suggests that the pneumonia is localised rather than widespread.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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