The effects of combined early oral health care and early mobilisation on the incidence of stroke-associated pneumonia

Pneumonia after stroke, which influences mortality1 and duration of hospitalisation,2 has been a common critical issue in stroke patients. In 2015, the Pneumonia in Stroke Consensus Group proposed the diagnostic criteria of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP), which is defined as a spectrum of lower respiratory tract infections in the first 7 days after stroke.3 A systematic review and meta-analysis reported that the incidence of SAP was 14%.4 There are several mechanisms of SAP onset, such as aspiration related to consciousness disturbance and dysphagia, stroke-induced immunodepression due to pathogenic bacteria, and immunological changes.
Source: Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research