Aspiration pneumonia – prophylaxis, diagnostics, and treatment

Aspiration pneumonia results from drawing content from the alimentary canal into the lower airways. This complication is frequently observed in elderly patients, especially among persons who lie in a supine position for a long time, as well as in patients with disorders of consciousness, dysphagia, head and neck tumours, and neurodegenerative diseases. The presence of risk factors for aspiration pneumonia together with the incidence of aspiration in a patient’s history (choking on food) are suggestive of the diagnosis. The radiological image is relatively characteristic for the disease. Antibiotic therapy should be chosen according to the guidelines of community- or hospital-acquired pneumonia depending on where the incident of aspiration took place. Risk factors for the infection with multi-resistant strains of bacteria or anaerobes should also be taken into consideration. In patients with identified risk factors for aspiration pneumonia, prophylaxis against this condition should be introduced.