Pneumonia is a disease of the lungs. There are different forms of this disease. One is form aspiration pneumonia. In this case, fluids or other solid materials drawn to the airway causes trauma and consequently infection of lungs. An infection results to inflammatory response causing impairment in gaseous exchange. For this kind of health risk, it is therefore necessary to observe measures of aspiration pneumonia prevention.
There are various causes of such a lung disease that need to be known and avoided at all cost. In general terms, this disease may be the result of a number of factors including inhalation of vomited substance, food or any other form of viscous fluids. The inhaled substance causes a form of trauma that finally leads to infection and consequently inflammation of lung epithelium.
Although all persons are at risk, others are more predisposed than others because of their health state. Because of this, there is dire need for due diligence in preventing any possible aspiration. Patients in coma, delirium, convulsive disorder or those fed using tubes are but a few examples of predisposed persons.
Tube feeding is one activity that is known to cause this disease. Several feeding guidelines must be adhered to so as to ensure success. For instance, a tube should be inserted by a professional and a confirmatory imaging done to ensure well positioning before use. Even so, periodic checks should be performed and vigilant observations carried out during such a procedure. Better still, correct feeds and feeding guidelines must be observed to avoid wrong and erroneous feeding practices.
Patients with altered state of mind are equally predisposed and therefore require precautionary measures to prevent aspirating food as well as airway secretions. Positioning is one good way of achieving this objective. Head of bed should be elevated at an angle of 45 degrees and the patient be placed on left lateral position. This limits flow back of stomach content and encourages free drainage of oral secretions.
Critically ill patients are absolutely unaware of their environment and therefore fully dependent on health service professionals. When such patients are on tracheal tubes then risk of aspirating substances is further raised. A persistent low cuff pressure has been shown to worsen the chances of micro. If sustained for longer duration, lung infection sets in and results to pneumonia. Critically ill clients with no airway tube require frequent airway clearance through periodic suctioning as need may be.
One other way of preventing this disease is through provision of sound oral care. Unclean oral cavity accumulates bacteria in large numbers thereby raising risk of infection in case oral content finds its way to airway. A regular and precise oral care is therefore a precautionary measure to limit infection even when patient aspirate oral fluid.
Finally, it is worth noting that prevention is far much better and acceptable that reaction measures. Whenever possible, all identified risk factors must be controlled and or eliminated to limit any chance of developing a disease.
There are various causes of such a lung disease that need to be known and avoided at all cost. In general terms, this disease may be the result of a number of factors including inhalation of vomited substance, food or any other form of viscous fluids. The inhaled substance causes a form of trauma that finally leads to infection and consequently inflammation of lung epithelium.
Although all persons are at risk, others are more predisposed than others because of their health state. Because of this, there is dire need for due diligence in preventing any possible aspiration. Patients in coma, delirium, convulsive disorder or those fed using tubes are but a few examples of predisposed persons.
Tube feeding is one activity that is known to cause this disease. Several feeding guidelines must be adhered to so as to ensure success. For instance, a tube should be inserted by a professional and a confirmatory imaging done to ensure well positioning before use. Even so, periodic checks should be performed and vigilant observations carried out during such a procedure. Better still, correct feeds and feeding guidelines must be observed to avoid wrong and erroneous feeding practices.
Patients with altered state of mind are equally predisposed and therefore require precautionary measures to prevent aspirating food as well as airway secretions. Positioning is one good way of achieving this objective. Head of bed should be elevated at an angle of 45 degrees and the patient be placed on left lateral position. This limits flow back of stomach content and encourages free drainage of oral secretions.
Critically ill patients are absolutely unaware of their environment and therefore fully dependent on health service professionals. When such patients are on tracheal tubes then risk of aspirating substances is further raised. A persistent low cuff pressure has been shown to worsen the chances of micro. If sustained for longer duration, lung infection sets in and results to pneumonia. Critically ill clients with no airway tube require frequent airway clearance through periodic suctioning as need may be.
One other way of preventing this disease is through provision of sound oral care. Unclean oral cavity accumulates bacteria in large numbers thereby raising risk of infection in case oral content finds its way to airway. A regular and precise oral care is therefore a precautionary measure to limit infection even when patient aspirate oral fluid.
Finally, it is worth noting that prevention is far much better and acceptable that reaction measures. Whenever possible, all identified risk factors must be controlled and or eliminated to limit any chance of developing a disease.
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