How To Diagnose And Treat Aspiration Pneumonia

Course Of Antibiotics

Antibiotics are a class of medications that effectively destroy particular types of bacteria that cause infections. Common types of bacteria known to cause aspiration pneumonia are Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Hemophilus influenzae. Antibiotics commonly used to treat this condition include azithromycin, moxifloxacin, and ceftriaxone. Other antibiotics also used include a combination of vancomycin and either piperacillin or imipenem.

The best method of choosing the correct antibiotic is by culturing the patient's tracheal aspirates, lung aspirates, or sputum. These methods help doctors identify the bacterial organism causing pneumonia. They can then choose the antibiotic to which that bacteria poses the least resistance.

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Breathing Machine Assistance

Breathing machine assistance may be needed to treat severe aspiration pneumonia. The affected individual's trachea and oropharynges may need to be suctioned to remove particles of food or other substances. Breathing machine assistance is considered when a patient is experiencing respiratory failure, mental changes, poor oxygenation, or difficulty breathing. The lung tissues may sustain damage from the bacteria that caused the infection or the inflammatory response.

When an individual's lung tissues become too damaged, patients may need help breathing. The breathing machine tube is placed in the patient's windpipe to bring air into and out of the lungs. Breathing machine assistance takes place in the intensive care unit. This part of the treatment is temporary until the lungs are healthy enough to function alone.

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