Pneumonia, Aspiration

- Development of radiographically evident infiltrate following the aspiration of colonized oropharyngeal material.

Risk factors:

• decreased level of consciousness
• dysphagia
• anatomic abnormality of upper GI tract
• mechanical interference of GI tract (ET/NG tubes).

Clinical:

• infiltrates in dependent lung segments, especially RLL
• episode of aspiration often not witnessed
• may progress to abscess/empyema within 1-2 weeks.

Etiology:

• role of anaerobes is controversial and may have been overemphasized in the past
• ceftriaxone has activity against many oral anaerobes.

- For immunocompromised patients, recommend Infectious Diseases consult.