Aspiration pneumonia is common in older people. To reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia, maintenance of good oral hygiene is important and medications affecting salivary flow or causing sedation are best avoided, if possible. The use of H2 blockers and proton-pump inhibitors should be minimised.Jul 4, 2014

How to prevent aspiration pneumonia in elderly?

• Preventing Aspiration in Elderly Adults. Make sure the individual is sitting upright or in a high fowler’s position in bed. Adjust the rate of feeding and size of bites to the individual. NEVER rush or force feeding. Alternate solid and liquids when feeding. Vary the placement of food in the mouth.

What is the best position to prevent aspiration?

Body positions that minimize aspiration include reclining position, chin down, head rotation, and side-lying /recumbent position.

Can elderly recover from aspiration pneumonia?

Recently, the effectiveness of rehabilitative management including physical, pulmonary, and dysphagia rehabilitation for aspiration pneumonia was reported. Several studies showed that early rehabilitation was associated with reduced mortality and early hospital discharge after aspiration pneumonia .

Which nursing intervention is most helpful in preventing aspiration pneumonia in older adults?

PREVENTION OF ASPIRATION DURING HAND FEEDING: Sit the person upright in a chair; if confined to bed, elevate the backrest to a 90-degree angle. Implement postural changes that improve swallowing. For example, a chin-down posture is helpful for patients with a tongue base swallowing disorder (Aslam & Vaesi, 2013).

What helps decrease an aspiration event?

Several dietary modifications can be initiated to decrease the risk of aspiration . Restricting fluids, decreasing volume and increasing frequency of feeds, breastfeeding, providing texture-modified diets, thickening feeds, and not feeding within 90 minutes of nap or bedtime may decrease GER and aspiration .

How do I stop aspiration while sleeping?

Helpful tips include: Slow down and swallow when speaking. Sleep with your head propped up so that saliva can flow down the throat. Sleep on your side instead of your back. Raise the head of your bed by a few inches to keep stomach acid in your stomach. Drink alcohol in moderation. Eat smaller meals.

How can I stop aspiration at night?

7 Tips for Preventing Reflux and Aspiration Limit liquids to no more than six ounces per hour. Move bedtime meds to evening meal (except for sleeping medication). Sleep elevated — preferably on an adjustable bed with upper body elevated between 30 to 45 degrees and the knees slightly elevated and flexed. Never sleep on your right side or stomach.

Does aspiration pneumonia require hospitalization?

Some people may need to be hospitalized . Treatment depends on how severe the pneumonia is and how ill the person is before the aspiration (chronic illness). Sometimes a ventilator (breathing machine) is needed to support breathing. You will likely receive antibiotics.

How quickly does aspiration pneumonia?

Symptoms of chemical pneumonitis include sudden shortness of breath and a cough that develops within minutes or hours. Other symptoms may include fever and pink frothy sputum . In less severe cases, the symptoms of aspiration pneumonia may occur a day or two after inhalation of the toxin.

Will aspiration pneumonia go away?

Treatment involves antibiotics and supportive care for breathing. Your outlook depends on your state of health prior to the event, the type of foreign material that is aspirated into your lungs, and any other conditions you might have. Most people (79 percent) will survive aspiration pneumonia .

Can we prevent aspiration pneumonia in the nursing home?

Reducing the total number of medications and avoiding medications that are known to cause decreased salivary flow are both modifiable risk factors in the nursing home that can help prevent aspiration pneumonia .

What is the most likely cause of his aspiration pneumonia?

It is now recognized that many common community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonias result from small-volume aspiration of more virulent pathogens from the oral cavity or nasopharynx, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae,Haemophilus influenza, Staphylococcus aureus, and gram-negative bacteria.

Which intervention would be most effective in preventing aspiration pneumonia?

Abstract. Aspiration pneumonia is common in older people. To reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia, maintenance of good oral hygiene is important and medications affecting salivary flow or causing sedation are best avoided, if possible. The use of H2 blockers and proton-pump inhibitors should be minimised.

What to do if aspiration occurs?

For people aspiration pneumonia, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help clear the infection. When aspiration results from a medical condition, such as a stroke, speech therapy may help to improve a person’s swallowing reflex and lower their risk of aspiration .

What antibiotic is good for aspiration pneumonia?

For aspiration pneumonia, a beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor is recommended, with clindamycin being reserved for penicillin allergic patients (1).

What to do if someone is aspirating?

Depending on the cause and severity of the aspiration , a feeding tube may be required. If someone is choking or not breathing, take immediate action. Call 911 and start CPR or Heimlich maneuver. If the person is coughing forcefully, encourage them to continue coughing to clear the object.