|
Inhaling of foreign particles into the lungs causes aspiration pneumonia. The diagnosis is usually based on the indication of pulmonary infiltrates in gravity-dependent lung regions, hypoxemia, fever and leukocytosis after an observed or suspected episode of vomiting or regurgitation in a patient at risk of aspiration pneumonia. Most patients who are infected are febrile and tachypneic. Two thirds of patients have shown rales and one third of the patients have cough, wheezing, or cyanosis.
Advertisement
| Advertisement
|
Most patients with aspiration pneumonia follow a treatment even though there is an absence of a specific microbiologic diagnosis. The two reasons responsible for making diagnosis tricky are the obtaining the specimen of deep respiratory tract secretions without contaminating the normal oral flora and the limited laboratory capacity for isolation of anaerobic microorganisms. Expectorated sputum is considered as a non valid specimen for anaerobic culture because it is contaminated with normal oral flora. However, the sputum specimen should be examined by Gram staining procedure and culture for aerobic pathogens.
A Gram Stain of the sputum showing numerous neutrophils and mixed microflora that contain gram-positive bacilli and cocci and gram-negative rods. This suggests that the person is suffering from polymicrobial infection that is typically seen in aspiration pneumonia and is an important in the diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia. The main aim of carrying out the sputum culture test is to identify serious pathogens (eg, gram-negative enteric bacilli). The information about the antimicrobial susceptibility of the pathogen can be used to adjust treatment. Specimen of blood, transthoracic needle aspirates, and bronchoscopic-protected specimen brush samples, pleural fluid are suitable for anaerobic as well aerobic culture test.
| 