Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs caused by which agents?

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Pneumonia is infection of the lung tissue (one or both lungs) caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. This broad range of pathogens explains why the correct choice lists bacteria, viruses, or fungi as the agents. The other descriptions point to conditions that are not infections of the lung tissue itself—pleural inflammation affects the lining around the lungs, chronic airway obstruction refers to a chronic lung disease, and a viral throat infection involves the upper airway rather than the lung tissue.