Strategies Which Can Be Applied For Aspiration Pneumonia Prevention

By Virginia Ward


Aspiration refers to the inhalation of gastric or even the orophryngeal content in the lower section of respiration tract. Patients who spend most of their lives under Long-term care facilities commonly known as LTC have indicated to possibly have a threefold greater risk of aspiration than those other individuals in the society. There are several recommended strategies which can be effectively applied in the aspiration pneumonia prevention.

Although there exists several treatment guidelines especially for the aged who have lower infections exists, a call for more emphasis on aspiration prevention should be keenly considered with regards to the aged adults as deaths which are associated with this kind of disease may actually be staggering in this kind of vulnerable population.

This therefore implies that mouth brushing is not only a significant process in inhibiting dental carriers together with gum boils but it is also viewed as a good process in enhancement of swallowing reflex. Mouth stimulation demands limited duration of time and effort as well when compared to legs and arms. All what is basically required is just a limited stimulus.

A study carried out among the aged people shown that among the aged people who had a mean of eighty three years of age most of them had not visited a dentist in duration of about five years. Reduced dental hygiene offers a huge impact on the health of aged people which encompasses both risk for aspiration and pneumonia.

It has also been viewed that nasogastric tubes tend to stimulate aspiration of such gastric content especially by damaging swallowing. This causes stagnation of the oropharyngeal secretions and thus limiting the tone of lower esophageal sphincter. All these problems may be possibly curved by elevating the head of an individual to bed.

The main goal of this is to basically increase the safety conditions for oral feeding especially if it has been compromised. Some of the methods which have been successfully applied in the management of this condition include swallowing therapy and posture changes, tube feeding and dietary modification.

Another strategy which can be effectively applied is basically neuroleptics avoidance. Sedative drugs can be successfully used in suppressing cough reflex. However it has been suggested that suppression of reflex cough by sedative hypnotics, analgesic narcotics or even anesthesia can be a great risk for aged people suffering from this kind of problem specifically when they are sleeping.

Poor dental hygiene provides a very significant impact on overall health which is inclusive of associated pneumonia and risk for aspiration. There are various techniques which can be applied in addressing barriers to oral care. Some of the techniques involve management of mouth care resistant behaviors, educating the LTC staff concerning oral care procedures and possibly addressing accountability.




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