Medical experts have divided bacterial pneumonia into three types. These three types of bacterial pneumonia are explained as follows:
Gram Positive Bacterial Pneumonia
Gram positive bacteria have a thick, compact cell wall made up of peptidoglycan. There are different types of gram positive bacteria that cause pneumonia. These include:
Pneumococcal Pneumonia
Pneumococcal pneumonia is caused by gram positive organism streptococcus pneumoniae. These are round shaped (coccus) bacteria that are found in pairs or short chains. This is the most common causative agent of pneumonia that causes about 80% of all infections. This bacterium is actually a part of the body's natural skin flora. It is found near the mouth and pharynges. When it gains entry into the lungs, especially when the immune system is weak, it leads to a pneumonial infection. The symptoms include cough, chest pain, breathing difficulty, fever, phlegm and occasional streaks of blood in phlegm.
