Study: Patients inserted with nasogastric tubes have higher risks as remaining germs on tongue might cause pneumonia

A study by researchers from the NUS Faculty of Dentistry has found that if bacteria in the mouth, especially on the tongue, when not cleaned, they might be inhaled into the lungs and cause pneumonia, with patients with intubation of the nose and throat at higher risk. The year-long study found that out of the 33 elderly patients with a nasogastric tube, up to 45.5 per cent had contracted pneumonia. In contrast, only 7.7 per cent of patients who did not have a nasogastric tube contracted pneumonia.

• Lianhe Zaobao, 8 September 2019, p6