Aspiration pneumonia is a lung infection that is created when material from vomit, saliva, food particles, and other substances enters the lungs from the stomach or mouth. These materials may introduce life-threatening bacteria to the lungs, such as staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pneumonia, or gram-negative infectious bacteria.
Individuals with healthy lungs can typically handle bacteria during these incidents and get rid of it by coughing. However, individuals who have trouble coughing, have compromised immune systems, or are already ill are more prone to infection leading to aspiration pneumonia.
Cause of Aspiration Pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia is a leading cause of hospitalization and death among nursing home residents and may result from negligence due to a doctor, nurse, hospital, or nursing home. Aspirated-related deaths are most common among elderly individuals who have identifiable risks and present bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. But, in a recent study on aspirated-associated death, one-third of aspirated-pulmonary syndromes were unsuspected before death and identified during an autopsy.
Most aspiration pneumonia cases can be prevented and are the result of medical malpractice, such as misdiagnosis. Death due to mistreatment of aspiration pneumonia, an inadequate number of medical staff, or negligent staff are another clear sign of medical malpractice.
Symptoms of Aspiration Pneumonia
Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia typically include a fever and cough. Risk factors for aspiration pneumonia include:
- Throat cancer
- Use of sedatives, anesthesia, or muscle relaxers
- Abusing alcohol or drugs
- Feeding tubes
- Dental problems
- Gastrointestinal disease (GERD)
- Disorders that impair mental capacity, such as dementia
Who is at a Greater Risk of Death by Aspiration Pneumonia?
Patients with advanced illness and elderly persons are at a higher risk of experiencing an aspiration pneumonia fatality. Pneumonia-related deaths decreased sharply when antibiotic therapy was introduced in the 1940s, and only half of the deaths associated with community-acquired pneumonia are attributed to acute illness. Underlying conditions often inspire pneumonia-related deaths, and prompt medical care dramatically reduces the risk of death by aspiration pneumonia.
Diagnosing Aspiration Pneumonia
Properly diagnosing aspiration pneumonia is very important, especially in elderly individuals who are at a higher risk of fatality. An accurate and timely diagnosis is very important and should be based on the patient’s history, symptoms, a chest x-ray, and a septum culture. Another type of aspiration pneumonia may be connected to chemical pneumonitis or tuberculosis.
Treating Aspiration Pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia is typically treated with antibiotics. The following medications may be prescribed to treat aspiration pneumonia.
- Ampicillin/Sulbactam
- Clindamycin
- Moxifloxacin
- Meropenem
Reduce Risk of Death and Prevent Aspiration Pneumonia
Preventing complications caused by anesthesia-inspired aspiration pneumonia contracted during a stay in a hospital or nursing home is very important. Medical professionals seek to reduce incidents of food aspiration and the risk of death caused by aspiration pneumonia with the practices listed below.
- Reducing Oral Bacteria Reduces Risk of Aspiration Pneumonia
The likelihood of infection when aspiration occurs is greatly reduced when the amount of bacteria in the mouth is diminished. Reducing the bacteria in the mouth may be achieved using antimicrobials like bleach and antibacterial wipes to clean surfaces and commonly touched items to stop the spread of bacteria in public areas, topical antibiotics to treat and prevent advanced infections, or intravenous antibiotics. A dental professional may also play a key role in reducing oral bacteria by mechanical removal.
- Physical therapy to Enhance Swallowing Reduces Risk of Aspiration Pneumonia
Individuals with impaired swallowing have an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia when particles of their meal enter the lungs. Physical therapy that teaches the patient advanced swallowing techniques involving their tongue and lips can reduce episodes of aspiration and thus reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
Further research is needed to confirm the benefits of swallowing therapy. But, simple actions while eating can improve an individual’s chewing and drinking capability, which reduces the risk of aspiration like feeding assistance and changing the person’s position while eating.
- Increased Risk of Aspiration Pneumonia after Anesthesia
Anesthesia causes a suppression of the body’s natural, protective reflexes, such as the gag reflex. The gag reflex is essential because it is associated with keeping some particles from entering the lungs. To reduce the risk of aspiration, the physician should identify risk factors that predispose an individual to aspiration before a procedure or operation with anesthesia.
Medication that addresses stomach acidity may reduce the risk of post-surgery aspiration, but this also increases the risk of bacterial colonization in the gastrointestinal tract and pneumonia. Advanced airway management with rapid sequence induction may reduce the risk of anesthesia-related aspiration.
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