Aspiration pneumonia

SUMMARY

• Aspiration pneumonia is diagnosed upon confirmation of inflammatory findings in the lungs and overt aspiration (apparent aspiration) or a condition in which aspiration is strongly suspected (abnormal swallowing function and dysphagia).

• In hospital-acquired pneumonia, this occurs as one consequence of frequent silent aspiration.

• In the diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia, evaluation of the risk of silent aspiration during the night and evaluation of swallowing function are important.

• The causative microorganisms in aspiration pneumonia, similar to community-acquired pneumonia, are basically thought to be bacteria residing in the oral cavity, such as pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus and anaerobes.

• Hospital-acquired aspiration pneumonia often occurs with no distinction between apparent and silent aspiration, and in many cases, aspiration of foreign substances is serious when dysphagia itself is severe.

• In the treatment of aspiration pneumonia, use of antimicrobials for the pneumonia itself and early measures to prevent aspiration are important.