Aspiration Pneumonia

Aspiration pneumonia is an infection that develops as a result of pulmonary aspiration. When you inhale a large amount of food, liquid, saliva or gastric contents, it can go into your lungs. This is known as pulmonary aspiration.

Aspiration pneumonia can arise if food, liquid or saliva is inhaled. If gastric contents are inhaled into the lungs, this can result in aspiration pneumonitis. Both are serious and potentially fatal conditions which make it difficult to breathe, and cause significant coughing.

Having a condition which causes a swallowing disorder, such as:

• Neurological disorders (e.g. stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Structural changes (e.g. head and neck cancer, radiation to the head and neck)
• Respiratory disorders (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

• Volume of aspirated material
• Characteristics of what is aspirated (e.g. bacterial load, liquid versus particulate matter, pH level)
• Frequency of aspiration events
• Integrity of the immune system
• Dependency for oral care or oral feeding
• Having multiple decayed teeth
• Having multiple medications and having teeth
• Currently smoking
• Having multiple medical diagnoses and having teeth

• Choking or coughing while eating or drinking
• Persistent cough
• Difficulty breathing, such as wheezing or shortness of breath
• Fever
• Chest pain
• Being fatigued

Note: These symptoms are common with many respiratory diseases/disorders. Please confirm your diagnosis with your primary care doctor.

• Medicine to reduce:
• • Fever
  • Pain
  • Inflammation
• Breathing assistance and oxygen therapy
• Thoracentesis
• Diet texture modifications
• Managing swallowing impairment (e.g., feeding strategies, swallowing exercises)

• Worsening shortness of breath, wheezing, or difficulty breathing
• Chest pain

Aspiration Pneumonia – Canadian Patient Safety Institute