Aspiration pneumonia

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Lungs

Pneumococci organism

Respiratory system

Aspiration pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs and airways to the lungs (bronchial tubes) from breathing in foreign material.

Aspiration pneumonia occurs when foreign materials (usually food, liquids, vomit, or fluids from the mouth) are breathed into the lungs or airways leading to the lungs.

This may lead to:

• A collection of pus in the lungs (lung abscess)
• Swelling and inflammation in the lung
• A lung infection (pneumonia)

Anaerobic pneumonia; Aspiration of vomitus; Necrotizing pneumonia; Aspiration pneumonitis

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Risk factors for aspiration or breathing in of foreign material into the lungs are:

• Being less alert due to medicines, illness, or other reasons
• Coma
• Disorders of the esophagus, the tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach (esophageal stricture, gastroesophageal reflux)
• Drinking large amounts of alcohol
• Medicine to put you into a deep sleep for surgery (general anesthesia)
• Old age
• Poor gag reflex in people who are not alert (unconscious or semi-conscious) after a stroke or brain injury
• Problems with swallowing

Acidic material that is breathed into the lungs can cause severe lung injury. However, it may not necessarily lead to pneumonia.

Review Date: 02/19/2011
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, Unviersity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).