Antipsychotic drugs are a risk factor for pneumonia in frail older people

This post includes a synopsis on a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 2011 Mar 17 and a recipe for Mediterranean chicken.

Study title and authors

Risk Factors for Aspiration Pneumonia in Frail Older People: A Systematic Literature Review.
van der Maarel-Wierink CD, Vanobbergen JN, Bronkhorst EM, Schols JM, de Baat C.

Books:

BENECOMO, Flemish-Netherlands Geriatric Oral Research Group (C.D.v.d.M.-W., J.N.O.V., J.M.G.A.S., C.d.B.), Ghent, Belgium/Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Oral Function and Prosthetic Dentistry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (C.D.v.d.M.-W., C.d.B.); Department of Community Dentistry and Oral Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium (J.N.O.V.); Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (E.M.B.); Caphri/Department General Practice, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (J.M.G.A.S.).

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21450240

Van der Maarel-Wierink reviewed 21 trials to ascertain the risk factors for pneumonia in frail older people.

Risk factors for pneumonia included the use of antipsychotic drugs (such as Melleril and Largactil), proton pump inhibitors (acid suppressing drugs), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.

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Recipe of the day

Mediterranean Chicken

Food Mall: Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, cubed
5 large green olives, diced
4 sundried tomatoes, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbs capers
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 tbs olive oil

Directions:
1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown chicken pieces.

2. Add in spices and veggies and cook for another 10 – 15 minutes.

Acid-suppressing drugs substantially increase the likelihood of recurrent pneumonia in the elderly

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in the American Journal of Medicine 2010 Jan;123(1):47-53 and a recipe for beef and spinach salad.

Study title and authors:
Recurrent community-acquired pneumonia in patients starting acid-suppressing drugs.
Eurich DT, Sadowski CA, Simpson SH, Marrie TJ, Majumdar SR.
Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. deurich@ualberta.ca

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20102991

The study found that acid-suppressing drugs such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine 2-receptor antagonists (H2s) substantially increased the likelihood of recurrent pneumonia in high-risk elderly patients.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) include:
Omeprazole (brand names: Losec, Prilosec, Zegerid, ocid, Lomac, Omepral, Omez)
Lansoprazole (brand names: Prevacid, Zoton, Inhibitol, Levant, Lupizole)
Dexlansoprazole (brand name: Kapidex, Dexilant)
Esomeprazole (brand names: Nexium, Esotrex)                                                                   Books:

Pantoprazole (brand names: Protonix, Somac, Pantoloc, Pantozol, Zurcal, Zentro, Pan)

Rabeprazole (brand names: Zechin, Rabecid,Nzole-D,(NEHAL PHARMA Pvt. Ltd.), AcipHex, Pariet, Rabeloc. Dorafem: combination with domperidone

Histamine 2-receptor antagonists (H2s) include:
Cimetidine (brand name: Tagamet)
Ranitidine (brand name Zantac)
Famotidine (brand names Pepcidine, Pepcid, Gaster)
Nizatidine (brand names Tazac, Axid)

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Recipe of the day

Beef and Spinach Salad                                                                                    Food Mall: Beef

Ingredients:

1 pound washed/drained and chopped spinach
1/2 cup sliced red onions
1/2 pound finely sliced beef
½ cup toasted cashews, sesame seeds or pine nuts (optional)
1 tsp cayenne pepper optional
Grounded black pepper and sea salt to taste.
1tbs olive oil

Instructions:
- In medium saucepan place olive oil over medium heat. Stir in ingredients until lightly toasted.

- Mix well.

- Remove from heat and let cool.