Important Steps To Apply 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.

One of the strategies is basically by observing oral hygiene. Organisms that tend to have a tendency of possibly blocking the oropharynx as well pharyngeal contents have been traced on microbiologic etiology with regards to this kind of disorder. These are microorganisms which have revealed the manner in which the bacterial arrives to the lower respiratory tract.

The major three risk factors commonly associated with the spread of this kind of disease include use of some kind of medication, dysphagia and poor oral hygiene. Identifying and trying to address these three risky factors can actually be an important step to take in protection of well-being and health of most vulnerable generations.

Sitting position is also another strategy which can be possibly applied in the curving this kind of disorder. Gastroesophageal reflux has been viewed to be common generally, but most commonly found in the aged individuals. It been observed that almost one third of older people possess intermittent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. Additionally position of supine especially due to increased aspiration of the gastric content in the lungs can possibly lead to pneumonia to patients on mechanical ventilation.

Advanced age has been suggested to basically represent a very independent risk factor specifically for dysphagia. With healthy aging even, there is possibility of physical toll on the neck together with head as well and the changes to both neural and physiologic mechanisms that basically support swallowing. This kind of condition is mostly managed by an interdisciplinary approach that mostly involves nursing assistants and the staff, dietitians, speech language pathologists, together with physicians working in tandem.

These are some of the common behaviors which tend to be very common to those individuals whom have condition known as dementia and some other impairment. But even with this dementia condition, a major strategy which has been actually proposed to minimize the risk of hastening these kinds of behaviors is by properly enhancing communication with those residents before trying oral care.

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.

This seems like patronizing and it tends to significantly underestimate the abilities of the aged person. Educating the LTC staff is another important strategy to apply in oral care and in addressing accountability. Those nursing home staff usually tends to have little education with regards on how to effectively offer oral care to their clients and also the importance of providing such oral care. Studies have revealed that training the nursing home care staff can help to enhance oral care among those nursing home care individuals.




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