Facts and Figures
AP represents 5–15% of all cases of community-associated pneumonia (CAP; i.e., pneumonia that is acquired outside of a
healthcare facility or that develops within 48 hours after admission to a healthcare facility) and represents up to 30% of cases
of pneumonia-related hospitalization of patients from long-term care facilities. About 10% of patients who are hospitalized
following a drug overdose have AP. Mortality rates associated with AP are ~ 5% in cases without empyema, 20% in cases with
empyema, and up to 70% in cases of severe chemical pneumonitis.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for AP include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the use of gastric acid suppressant medication (e.g.,
ranitidine, omeprazole), decreased or absent gag reflex, dysphagia(i.e., difficulty swallowing), malpositioned nasogastric
feeding tube, upper endoscopy, tracheal intubation/mechanical ventilation, COPD, vomiting, severe hypotension, advanced
age, dental abnormalities (e.g., periodontal disease as a result of poor oral hygiene), obesity, neurologic impairment (e.g.,
due to stroke, seizures, aphasia, coma, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, head trauma, or brain tumor), cardiac arrest, the use of
sedative drugs, anesthesia, drug overdose, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Signs and Symptoms/Clinical Presentation
Signs and symptoms of AP include low-grade fever, malaise, excessive sweating, weight loss, chest pain, shortness of breath,
tachycardia, productive cough with foul-smelling sputum, and dysphagia.
Assessment
› Physical Findings of Particular Interest
• Clinical presentation may include fever, tachypnea, tachycardia, hypotension, cyanosis, altered mental status,
bronchospasm, wheezing, crackles, bronchial rales, pleural friction rubs, and foul-smelling purulent sputum
› Laboratory Tests That May Be Ordered
• CBC with differential may show leukocytosis
• Serum electrolytes, lactate, BUN, and creatinine levels may be increased, particularly in patients with a history of poor oral
intake or recurrent emesis
• Sputum culture and Gram staining can be used to identify the causative pathogen(s)
• Blood cultures may be performed as baseline screening for bacteremic infection and to guide appropriate antimicrobial
therapy
• ABG analysis may show acidosis, decreased PaO2, and increased PaCO2
› Other Diagnostic Tests/Studies
• Chest X-ray may identify alveolar or reticular pulmonary infiltrates, foreign bodies, pleural effusion, lung abscess,
empyema, consolidation, and/or multiple areas of thick walled cavitation
• Swallowing studies (e.g., upper GI series or videofluoroscopic swallowing studies [VFSS]) may be ordered to evaluate for
swallowing difficulty
• Thoracentesis with ultrasonography may be performed to remove effusions and detect and analyze the quantity and
characteristics of pleural fluid effusion
Treatment Goals
› Resuscitate, as Appropriate, and Reduce Risk of Complications of AP
• Assess patient status and assist with tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation support as necessary to prevent further
aspiration in patients with progressive dyspnea and/or respiratory failure
• Provide tracheobronchial suctioning as necessary to remove effusions, particulates, and/or plugs
• Closely monitor vital signs; intake and output; oxygen; daily weight; electrolytes; sputum production; cardiac, respiratory,
fluid, and nutritional status; breathing sounds; pulse oximetry; and ABG values
• Provide/assist with oral care following eating and according to facility protocols in patients receiving tube feedings
–Elevate the head of the bed 30° for at least 30 minutes after tube feeding, as appropriate
• Administer antimicrobial medications as ordered. For CAP, the antimicrobials cefTRIAXone, ampicillin/sulbactam, and
clindamycin are considered first-line therapy. For healthcare-associated AP (HAP; i.e., pneumonia that develops 48 hour