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Pneumonia, Aspiration Updated 4/2011

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BASICS

  • Description
  • Epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • General Prevention
  • Pathophysiology
  • Etiology
  • Associated Conditions

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis

TREATMENT

  • Medication (Drugs)
  • Additional Treatment
  • In-patient Considerations

Ongoing Care

  • Diet
  • Prognosis
  • Complications
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description
  • Pneumonia due to inhalation of microorganisms from the oral cavity or nasopharynx
  • In contrast to community-acquired pneumonia, which occurs by direct inhalation of infectious particles from air
  • Results from impaired mechanical, humoral, or cellular immunity, such as impaired cough reflex or glottic closure, that protects lower airways
  • System(s) affected: Pulmonary
Epidemiology
ALERT: Geriatric Considerations
  • Risk of aspiration pneumonia is 6× higher if ≥75 years of age.
Prevalence
  • Silent aspiration is extremely common in elderly patients but can occur even in normal individuals:
    • Occurs in 2–25% of acute stroke patients
    • Up to 50% of normal adults aspirate during sleep.
  • Up to 20% of severe community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization is polymicrobial, suggesting aspiration, but specific bacteria ...

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See Also
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FIG. 16.4. Aspiration pneumonia. A: Blood aspiration. A 3-year-old boy with tachypnea 1 day after surgery for enlarged adenoids/tonsils. The chest radiograph shows an infiltrate in the right upper and left lower lobe. B: Blood aspiration. The chest radiograph 2 days later shows clearing of the infiltrate in the right upper and left lower lobe.Credit: From Fleisher GR, MD, Ludwig W, MD, Baskin MN, MD. Atlas of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004.
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