Vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcus (PCV-13 vaccination) are important and effective preventive measures. Furthermore, to prevent pneumonia (pneumonia), attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.
Behavioral risk factors
- Diet
- Malnutrition, undernutrition.
- Increased intake and increased serum levels of copper, cadmium, lead.
- See prevention with micronutrients
- Consumption of stimulants
- Alcohol
- Tobacco (smoking)
- Bedriddenness
- Aspiration – inhalation of e.g. gastric acid, food residues, foreign bodies.
- Wearing dentures while sleeping at night; 2.38-fold risk of pneumonia (compared to those who took dentures out of their mouths at night)
Environmental exposure – intoxications (poisonings).
- Air pollutants: particulate matter
Prevention factors (protective factors)
To prevent pneumonia (pneumonia) caused by pneumococcal or influenza viruses, pneumococcal or influenza vaccination should be given to the following individuals:
Pneumococcal Vaccination
- Age over 65 years
- Asplenic patients – patients without spleen.
- Chronic renal insufficiency (kidney weakness).
- Nephrotic syndrome – complex of symptoms associated with kidney disease.
- Patients with weakened defenses – e.g. HIV infection, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy.
- Severe underlying pulmonary and/or cardiac disease – underlying diseases of the lungs and heart.
- Before splenectomy – before removal of the spleen.
Influenza vaccination (influenza)
- Age over 60 years
- Chronic diseases
- Epidemics
- HIV-infected patients
- Immunocompromised patients
- Patients in nursing or retirement homes
- Persons at increased risk – e.g. nursing staff.
Prevention program to reduce nosocomial pneumonia
To prevent nosocomial pneumonia (hospital-acquired pneumonia, HAP; hospital-acquired pneumonia), the following measures are needed:
- Raising the head of the bed (at least 30°).
- Coughing and breathing exercises with spirometry (medical procedure to measure and record the volume of the lungs or breathing).
- Twice daily oral hygiene with chlorhexidine including dental care.
- Take all meals while sitting
- Mobilization of the patient with good pain control
