COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
Respiratory Diseases and Periodontal Diseases
Several recent studies have suggested an association between dental plaque, poor oral health and lung diseases. The dental plaque, a complex biofilm, can serve as a reservoir of infection, contributing to infections of the respiratory tract like nosocomial pneumonia (hospital-acquired) mainly in the hospitalised or institutionalised elderly and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.
Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lung parenchyma (lung tissue) and may affect one or both lungs (double pneumonia). Pneumonia is classified as community-acquired and nosocomial (hospital-acquired) pneumonia. The latter refers to the pneumonia that develops among patients who are seriously ill in hospital intensive care units. It is nosocomial pneumonia, which has been associated with hospital patients having periodontitis and poor oral health.
Respiratory pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae are some of the causative agents for Nosocomial pneumonia.
Nosocomial pneumonia is the second most common infection (after infections of the urinary tract) known in long-term care institutions. Nearly 10 - 15% of all hospital-acquired infections are nosocomial pneumonia and 20 - 50% of the patients may die of this disease.
The causative bacteria for nosocomial pneumonia have also been demonstrated in the teeth of hospitalised patients who are too ill and show very poor oral hygiene. Nosocomial pneumonia is caused by bacteria that are not normally residents of the oro-pharynx. The teeth are superinfected by these bacteria probably due to exposure of the patients to antibiotics, which suppresses the normal flora and allow the pathogenic bacteria from the hospital environment to grow in the mouth. These pathogens in the mouth are often aspirated into the lower respiratory tracts of the lungs of very ill patients with poor cough reflexes, resulting in pneumonia.
COPD is a condition that arises due to obstruction of the airflow in the lungs and affects a significant segment of the population. There is chronic obstruction to airflow and excess production of mucous secretions resulting from chronic bronchitis and or emphysema (enlargement of air spaces and loss of lung parenchyma/tissue). The progressive loss of airflow in COPD is not fully reversible. The main cause of this disease is cigarette smoking.
Periodic 'exacerbations' or episodes of increased severity of the condition, occurs throughout the disease process. It is the exacerbation of COPD which is linked to poor oral hygiene i.e. periodontitis in patients.
The bacteria often associated with the exacerbations are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Branhamella (Moraxella) cattarrhalis.
In a recent report, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was ranked worldwide as the sixth leading cause of death (2.2 million deaths). In the United States it affects 14 million people and in 1996 was the fourth leading cause for death.
Like in nosocomic pneumonia, bacteria in the dental plaque together with saliva containing inflammation-aiding products are aspirated into the lungs. The bacteria aspirated may directly contribute to the exacerbation of COPD. It is also suggested that the periodontal disease-associated enzymes in the saliva may modify oro-pharyngial mucosal surfaces to promote growth of respiratory pathogens, which are then aspirated into the lungs. More research is needed to define the exact mechanisms, but the present knowledge is enough to increase the efforts to treat and prevent periodontal diseases in critically ill and hospitalized patients.
http://www.whocollab.od.mah.se/expl/systrespir.html
We really must remember oral hygiene its so important...
Lets keep out mouths clean, Brush, floss, swish and rinse!
It feels good to have a clean mouth too!
Breath Easy and have a wonderful day,
Hugs to all here,
Holly
Several recent studies have suggested an association between dental plaque, poor oral health and lung diseases. The dental plaque, a complex biofilm, can serve as a reservoir of infection, contributing to infections of the respiratory tract like nosocomial pneumonia (hospital-acquired) mainly in the hospitalised or institutionalised elderly and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.
Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lung parenchyma (lung tissue) and may affect one or both lungs (double pneumonia). Pneumonia is classified as community-acquired and nosocomial (hospital-acquired) pneumonia. The latter refers to the pneumonia that develops among patients who are seriously ill in hospital intensive care units. It is nosocomial pneumonia, which has been associated with hospital patients having periodontitis and poor oral health.
Respiratory pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae are some of the causative agents for Nosocomial pneumonia.
Nosocomial pneumonia is the second most common infection (after infections of the urinary tract) known in long-term care institutions. Nearly 10 - 15% of all hospital-acquired infections are nosocomial pneumonia and 20 - 50% of the patients may die of this disease.
The causative bacteria for nosocomial pneumonia have also been demonstrated in the teeth of hospitalised patients who are too ill and show very poor oral hygiene. Nosocomial pneumonia is caused by bacteria that are not normally residents of the oro-pharynx. The teeth are superinfected by these bacteria probably due to exposure of the patients to antibiotics, which suppresses the normal flora and allow the pathogenic bacteria from the hospital environment to grow in the mouth. These pathogens in the mouth are often aspirated into the lower respiratory tracts of the lungs of very ill patients with poor cough reflexes, resulting in pneumonia.
COPD is a condition that arises due to obstruction of the airflow in the lungs and affects a significant segment of the population. There is chronic obstruction to airflow and excess production of mucous secretions resulting from chronic bronchitis and or emphysema (enlargement of air spaces and loss of lung parenchyma/tissue). The progressive loss of airflow in COPD is not fully reversible. The main cause of this disease is cigarette smoking.
Periodic 'exacerbations' or episodes of increased severity of the condition, occurs throughout the disease process. It is the exacerbation of COPD which is linked to poor oral hygiene i.e. periodontitis in patients.
The bacteria often associated with the exacerbations are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Branhamella (Moraxella) cattarrhalis.
In a recent report, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) was ranked worldwide as the sixth leading cause of death (2.2 million deaths). In the United States it affects 14 million people and in 1996 was the fourth leading cause for death.
Like in nosocomic pneumonia, bacteria in the dental plaque together with saliva containing inflammation-aiding products are aspirated into the lungs. The bacteria aspirated may directly contribute to the exacerbation of COPD. It is also suggested that the periodontal disease-associated enzymes in the saliva may modify oro-pharyngial mucosal surfaces to promote growth of respiratory pathogens, which are then aspirated into the lungs. More research is needed to define the exact mechanisms, but the present knowledge is enough to increase the efforts to treat and prevent periodontal diseases in critically ill and hospitalized patients.
http://www.whocollab.od.mah.se/expl/systrespir.html
We really must remember oral hygiene its so important...
Lets keep out mouths clean, Brush, floss, swish and rinse!
It feels good to have a clean mouth too!
Breath Easy and have a wonderful day,
Hugs to all here,
Holly
Hugs Ellen.
Hugs
Donna