EMedicine(Health/Respiratory_Disorders) emedicine.com Description: Article about bacterial pneumonia, which is caused by a pathogenic infection of the... lungs.Pneumonia, Bacterial Bacterial pneumonia is caused by a pathogenic infection of the lungs and may present as a primary disease process or as the final coup de grace in the individual who is already debilitated. William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the United States, contracted pneumonia during his inauguration in 1841 and died after being in office for only 31 days. Ronald Reagan, 40th US president, died of pneumonia after years of debilitation from Alzheimer disease. Other notable Specializes in: pneumoniabacteriallung infectionbacterial lung infectionbronchopneumonialung parenchymasmokingchronic...obstructivepulmonary