What Is Walking Pneumonia?

Preventing Walking Pneumonia

There is currently no vaccine to prevent an individual from becoming infected by the bacteria that causes walking pneumonia. In addition, the body of an individual who has had walking pneumonia previously does not retain its immunity to the infection-causing bacteria, which means they can become re-infected. Taking preventative steps is critical for individuals who come in close contact with others regularly, like in nursing homes and schools. An individual should thoroughly wash their hands with lukewarm water and antibacterial soap before handling any food, touching their face, touching their nose, or touching their mouth. A walking pneumonia patient should only sneeze and cough into tissues and discard them immediately to prevent others from breathing in the particles and becoming infected. An individual can prevent walking pneumonia by not sharing personal items like utensils, straws, cups, food, linens, clothes, and towels. They can also use hand sanitizer to help prevent walking pneumonia when they are in situations where a source of water and soap are not readily available.