Aspiration pneumonia.

Aspiration pneumonia is diagnosed upon confirmation of inflammatory findings in the lungs and overt aspiration (apparent aspiration) or a condition in which aspiration is strongly suspected (abnormal swallowing function and dysphagia). In hospital-acquired pneumonia, this occurs as one consequence of frequent silent aspiration. In the diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia, evaluation of the risk of silent aspiration during the night and evaluation of swallowing function are important. The causative microorganisms in aspiration pneumonia, similar to community-acquired pneumonia, are basically thought to be bacteria residing in the oral cavity, such as pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus and anaerobes. Hospital-acquired aspiration pneumonia often occurs with no distinction between apparent and silent aspiration, and in many cases, aspiration of foreign substances is serious when dysphagia itself is severe. In the treatment of aspiration pneumonia, use of antimicrobials for the pneumonia itself and early measures to prevent aspiration are important.