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319.1.0.1.1 Aspiration Pneumonia
319.1.0.1.1.1 Mechanism Spectrum
Chemical Pneumonitis (Mendelson Syndrome): - Acidic gastric contents (pH < 2.5) - Rapid lung injury (minutes-hours) - Sterile initial; bacterial superinfection can develop - Treatment: supportive; NOT routine antibiotics initially
Bacterial Aspiration Pneumonia: - 24-72 hours post-aspiration - Pathogen-driven infection - Polymicrobial (anaerobes + aerobes) - Treatment: antibiotics
319.1.0.1.1.2 Pathogens (Modern Understanding)
Anaerobes (traditional emphasis): - Peptostreptococcus - Fusobacterium - Prevotella - Bacteroides - Veillonella
Aerobes (Now Recognized as Common): - S. pneumoniae - H. influenzae - S. aureus (esp post-influenza) - GNR (Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, E. coli) - Mycoplasma (less common)
Hospital / Healthcare Setting: - More Pseudomonas + MRSA - Bacteroides + anaerobic GNR
319.1.0.1.1.3 Risk Factors
Altered Consciousness: - Stroke - Dementia - Drug intoxication - Seizure - General anesthesia - Coma
Dysphagia: - Stroke - Parkinson disease - ALS - Multiple sclerosis - Head + neck cancer - Esophageal motility disorders - Achalasia
Reduced Gag / Swallow: - Esophageal disease - Tracheoesophageal fistula - Cricopharyngeal dysfunction
Mechanical Factors: - NG / NJ tube - Endotracheal tube - Tracheostomy - Bedridden status
Other: - GERD - Chronic alcohol - Periodontal disease - Aging - Obesity (mild risk) - Bulbar dysfunction
319.1.0.1.1.4 Clinical Features
Witnessed Aspiration: - Coughing, choking during/after eating - Acute respiratory distress - Cyanosis if severe - Watch for chemical pneumonitis
Subacute Aspiration Pneumonia: - Insidious onset (days) - Fever, cough, sputum - Often dependent lung zones (RLL > LLL when supine, RUL when right side down) - Foul-smelling sputum (anaerobic)
Examination: - Crackles, decreased breath sounds - Egophony (consolidation) - Tachypnea, hypoxia
319.1.0.1.1.5 Imaging
Chest X-Ray / CT: - Dependent lung zone infiltrates: - Right upper lobe: aspiration in supine position with right side down - Right lower lobe + middle lobe: aspiration in semi-recumbent - Posterior segments lower lobes: aspiration in left lateral decubitus - Bilateral often - Consolidation, ground-glass, or both - Cavitation suggests abscess
319.1.0.1.1.6 Diagnosis
- Clinical context (witnessed aspiration, dysphagia, altered mental status)
- Radiographic findings (dependent lobes)
- Sputum: anaerobes hard to culture; foul smell hints
- Blood cultures (less often positive)
- Bronchoscopy + BAL if uncertain
- Modified barium swallow / FEES (fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing) for swallowing assessment
319.1.0.1.2 Treatment
319.1.0.1.2.1 Chemical Pneumonitis (Acute Aspiration without Infection)
Initial Management: - Suctioning (acute) - O2 + supportive - Mechanical ventilation if respiratory failure - Watch for ARDS
No Routine Antibiotics: - Most resolve in 24-48 hours - Antibiotics if: - Fever, leukocytosis, persistent infiltrate > 48 hours - SIRS / sepsis features - Failure to improve
Steroids: not routinely; no clear benefit
319.1.0.1.2.2 Bacterial Aspiration Pneumonia
Outpatient / Community: - Amoxicillin-clavulanate (first-line) - OR Clindamycin (alternative) - OR Metronidazole + amoxicillin (combination) - Duration: 7-14 days
Inpatient: - Ampicillin-sulbactam (Unasyn) - Piperacillin-tazobactam (Zosyn) - Metronidazole + ceftriaxone OR - Carbapenem (severe / MDR risk)
Hospital-Acquired (HAP): - See Ch317 - Cover Pseudomonas + MRSA if applicable
Penicillin Allergy: - Clindamycin + ceftriaxone - Carbapenem (carbapenem-allergy rare)
MRSA Risk: - Add vancomycin or linezolid
319.1.0.1.3 Lung Abscess
319.1.0.1.3.1 Definition
- Localized necrotic + suppurative collection > 2 cm
- Communication with airway (cavitation with air-fluid level)
- Most often aspiration + anaerobes
319.1.0.1.3.2 Etiology
Primary (Aspiration): - Most common - Anaerobes + S. aureus + GNR - Often single - Right lung > left
Secondary: - Septic pulmonary embolism (S. aureus, esp from endocarditis, IVDU) - Necrotizing pneumonia (Klebsiella, S. aureus, Acinetobacter) - Bronchial obstruction (cancer, foreign body) - Trauma - Immunocompromise (aspergillosis, mucormycosis) - TB / NTM (cavitary)
319.1.0.1.3.3 Clinical
- Chronic cough (often foul, putrid sputum)
- Fever (often low-grade chronic)
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Hemoptysis (15-30%)
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Clubbing (chronic)
319.1.0.1.3.4 Imaging
- CXR: cavity with air-fluid level
- CT: defines size + location + multifocality
- Often dependent areas
- Right lower lobe + right upper lobe (posterior segment) common
319.1.0.1.3.5 Workup
- Bronchoscopy: for foreign body, mass, biopsy
- Sputum cultures (aerobic + anaerobic)
- Blood cultures
- Echocardiogram (right-sided endocarditis source)
- HIV testing in select
319.1.0.1.3.6 Treatment
Antibiotics: - Amoxicillin-clavulanate or piperacillin-tazobactam (covers anaerobes) - Clindamycin alternative - Carbapenem for severe / MDR - Duration: 4-6 weeks (often longer than CAP) - IV initially â switch to PO - Adjust per cultures
Drainage: - Usually NOT needed (spontaneous drainage via airway) - Percutaneous catheter drainage: for large, persistent, or refractory abscess - Surgical resection: rare; for malignancy suspicion or recurrence
Bronchoscopy: - Diagnostic: rule out foreign body, mass, infection - Therapeutic: limited - Beware bronchopulmonary spillage during procedure
Underlying Cause Treatment: - Endocarditis (if septic emboli source) - Foreign body removal - Aspiration prevention
319.1.0.1.4 Anaerobic Pleuropulmonary Infections (Spectrum)
319.1.0.1.5 Aspiration Prevention
319.1.0.1.5.1 Swallowing Evaluation
- Speech-language pathologist (SLP)
- Modified barium swallow
- FEES (fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing)
319.1.0.1.5.2 Strategies
- Modified diet (thickened liquids, pureed)
- Head of bed elevation ⥠30° during meals + post-prandial
- Smaller, slower meals
- Oral hygiene
- Swallowing exercises (CTAR, Shaker exercise)
- NG tube placement check before feeding
- PEG tube for severe dysphagia (debated benefit in dementia)
319.1.0.1.5.3 Stroke Care Bundle (Class I)
- NPO until swallow assessment
- Dysphagia screening within 24 hours
- SLP referral if abnormal
319.1.0.2 𩺠åºé鿥
- Aspiration pneumonia = polymicrobial (anaerobes + aerobes); dependent lobes
- Mendelson syndrome = chemical pneumonitis from gastric acid; no routine abx
- Treatment: amoxicillin-clavulanate / pip-tazo (anaerobic cover)
- Lung abscess: cavity + air-fluid level; 4-6 week antibiotics; drainage usually not needed
- Septic pulmonary embolism: S. aureus (endocarditis, IVDU); multiple cavitations
- Prevention: SLP evaluation, thickened liquids, HOB elevation, oral hygiene