Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presença de fatores de risco
- tosse
- dispneia
Other diagnostic factors
- história de vômitos
- taquipneia
- hálito com odor desagradável
- crepitações
- expectoração espumosa ou purulenta
- febre
- dor torácica pleurítica
- delirium
- apetite reduzido
- mobilidade reduzida
- debilitação geral
Risk factors
- disfunção da deglutição
- nível de consciência prejudicado
- doença gastrointestinal
- procedimentos anestésicos gerais ou orofaríngeos
- idade avançada
- tosse fraca
- presença de uma sonda de alimentação
- cânceres de cabeça e pescoço
- politraumatismo
- posição reclinada durante alimentação enteral
- higiene bucal ineficiente
- dificuldades de aprendizagem
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- radiografia torácica
- hemograma completo
- ureia e eletrólitos
- testes da função hepática
- Proteína C-reativa
- coloração de Gram de expectoração
- cultura de escarro
Investigations to consider
- gasometria arterial
- broncoscopia
Treatment algorithm
todos os pacientes
Contributors
Expert advisers
Jonathan Bennett, MD
Honorary Professor of Respiratory Sciences
University of Leicester
Respiratory Consultant
Glenfield Hospital
Leicester
UK
Biography
JB is Chair of the British Thoracic Society (BTS). He is also deputy medical director RCP Invited service Reviews, and speaker at National Society (eg., BTS), Primary Care respiratory Society, Society Cardiothoracic Surgeons meetings.
Disclosures
JB declares that he has no competing interests.
Claire Vella, MD, MRCP
Clinical Fellow Lung Cancer and Interventional Pulmonology
Glenfield Hospital
Leicester
UK
Disclosures
CV declares that she has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice would like to gratefully acknowledge the previous expert contributor, whose work has been retained in parts of the content:
Michael J. Lanspa, MD
Adjunct Associate Professor
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Intermountain Medical Center
University of Utah
Salt Lake City
UT
Disclosures
MJL declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
David G. Smithard, BSc, MB, MD, FRCP, FRCSLT (Hon)
Visiting Professor
University of Greenwich
Consultant in Elderly Medicine
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Greenwich
UK
Disclosures
DGS declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewer acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.
Disclosures
Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.
References
Key articles
Simpson AJ, Allen JL, Chatwin M, et al. BTS clinical statement on aspiration pneumonia. Thorax. 2023 Feb;78(suppl 1):s3-21.Full text Abstract
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Stroke and transient ischaemic attack in over 16s: diagnosis and initial management. April 2022 [internet publication].Full text
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Pneumonia (community-acquired): antimicrobial prescribing. September 2019 [internet publication].Full text
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Pneumonia (hospital-acquired): antimicrobial prescribing. September 2019 [internet publication].Full text
Reference articles
A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

Differentials
- Pneumonia adquirida na comunidade (PAC)
- Pneumonia hospitalar
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