The Relationship Between Oral Care And Aspiration Pneumonia
by Christopher Richardson
The oral cavity is colonized by millions of bacterial and fungal organisms. Many of these do not cause disease and are thus described as being normal flora. The opposite is true for the organisms that will colonize the oral cavity in an individual with poor hygiene such as the typical elderly patient on long term care. In this article we will discuss <a href="http://www.swallowstudy.com">oral care and aspiration pneumonia</a>.
It has been established that the risk for aspiration among patients on long term care is markedly increased if there is a concomitant disease in the cavity. Examples of these diseases and medical conditions include periodontal diseases and dental caries. Other conditions that may worsen the situation include the existence of swallowing difficulties, inability to feed and poor motor coordination. The elderly are at a higher risk of suffering from this conditions than the general population.
Findings from various studies show that approximately 15% of adults within the general population have difficulties in swallowing. This problem appears to worsen with advancing age such that among those aged above 80 years, the proportion approaches 50%. It is thought that these challenges arise due to the changes occurring in the oropharynx as one advances in age. Other factors that may increase the risk include cerebral palsy, stroke and dementia among others.
One of the most important interventions that should be considered is a change in posture during swallowing. A posture that will reduce the risk of aspiration should be adopted. In general, this should be less than 90 degrees from the horizontal. Additional maneuvers that are aimed at optimizing on this can be taught to both the patient and their caregiver over several sessions.
The patients in long term care typically receive numerous medications for their many medical conditions. Some of these medications have the potential to interfere with the process of swallowing. It is important for the doctor to evaluate the medications and to determine which among them may be causing the problem. As this is being done, drugs that help reduce the amount of secretions and gastric acid production should be included.
Most of the elderly patients undergoing long term care also suffer a suppression in their oral functions. This is mainly due to their depressed level of consciousness. The cavity is initially abnormally dry resulting in reflex production of mucosal secretions and saliva. The secretions get mixed up with solid residuals that have not been cleared and form a sticky paste which adheres on mucosal surfaces and the teeth.
With self-cleaning mechanisms of the oral cavity suppressed, there is a need to artificially remove this sticky paste from the cavity. If this is not done, the area will be colonized by harmful bacteria that can easily cause upper respiratory tract infections and aspiration pneumonia. Gram negative bacteria are the most commonly isolated organisms in such settings. Even if overt aspiration does not occur, silent aspiration of microorganisms may cause pneumonia.
Maintaining good oral health will not only lower the risk of aspiration but that of other local and systemic complications as well. Such may include abscess formation and infective endocarditis. It is important to bear in mind that the elderly are at an increased risk of poor hygiene and aspiration due to multiple factors. Preventing aspiration is done through eliminating as many of the risk factors as possible.
The following article explains about the effectiveness of <a href="http://www.swallowstudy.com">oral care and aspiration pneumonia</a> prevention. To read the informative post now, check out the blog at http://www.swallowstudy.com.
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New Unique Article!
Title: The Relationship Between Oral Care And Aspiration Pneumonia
Author: Christopher Richardson
Email: nathanwebster335@live.com
Keywords: oral care and aspiration pneumonia
Word Count: 559
Category: Adult
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