Types of Aspiration

Aspiration is the inhalation of gastric content into the lower airways --- that is, intake of foreign material into the lungs. Aspiration can cause a number of syndromes based on the quantity and nature of the predisposed material and the frequency of aspiration. Four types of material can cause aspiration.

Bacterial Aspiration

• Bacterial aspiration usually stems from bacteria swallowed and inhaled into the lungs. The inhaled bacteria cause inflammation of the bronchial tubes and lungs, and it may result in formation of pus in the lungs. Bacterial aspiration usually results from several stains of bacteria including Chlamydia trachomatis, Hemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium, with the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium usually accounting for a majority of bacterial aspiration.

Chemical Aspiration

• Chemical aspiration results from the aspiration of a large volume of gastric contents or stomach acid. Chemical aspiration may result in shortness of breath, cough and fever. The diagnosis of chemical aspiration may require a careful review of patient's history, chest X-rays and blood oxygen level measurements. Treatments usually consist of oxygen therapy --- a treatment that provides extra oxygen. In some cases, the patient may require a mechanical breathing device.

Liquid Aspiration

• Liquid aspiration, the most common type of aspiration among the older population, results from the aspiration of oily substances such as the vapors from mineral, vegetable and cooking oils.

Foreign Body Aspiration

• Foreign body aspiration occurs when aspirated solid or semisolid objects lodge in the upper respiratory tract. The aspirated object will usually be a food item, but retrieved objects may also include seeds, nuts, bone fragments, nails, small toys, coins, pins, medical instrument fragments and dental appliances. If the object is large enough to cause nearly complete obstruction of the airway, a condition called asphyxia results that may cause death. Asphyxia is an extreme decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the body accompanied by an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide.