NEW RESEARCH SHOWS HOW TO AVOID PNEUMONIA IN THE HOSPITAL

A new article in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) (January 2018) provided a much-needed warning about the danger of contracting pneumonia while hospitalized for another reason. It’s a risk to patients of all ages, and results from inadequate attention to the following four needs:

1. Oral care: patients’ mouths need to be cleaned daily to avoid the build-up of bacteria in the mouth that could be aspirated into the lungs, causing pneumonia
2. Deep breathing exercises or use of the spirometer, a gadget that exercises a patients’ deep breathing
3. Elevation of the patients’ head to 30-45 degrees while the patient in bed
4. Getting patients moving and walking where possible