Can we prevent aspiration pneumonia in the nursing home?
Aspiration pneumonia is a significant cause of morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality in the nursing home population. Patients who aspirate have three times higher mortality than patients who do not aspirate. We discuss the factors known to increase the risk of aspiration and its consequences, and recognize some of the preventive measures for aspiration pneumonia. We suggest approaches to decrease the risk of this very prevalent syndrome.
Oh
Eliza
E
UCLA School of Medicine, Multicampus Program in Geriatrics and Gerontology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Weintraub
Nancy
N
Dhanani
Shawkat
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000592:standards*; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States