[Aspiration pneumonia: Practical synthesis and perspectives in the light of the 2025 French guidelines]

Aspiration pneumonia is a specific respiratory infection. It is frequent and severe, and represents a pressing issue given the growing ageing population. For the first time, French guidelines clarify how to manage this infection. We therefore wanted to present a revised review on this topic. The main aim is to highlight strategic elements based on pathophysiology. Diagnosis is based on clinical and radiological criteria; however, the aspiration event remains difficult to define. Biological tests are still important for follow-up and evaluating the impact of the disease on different organ systems. Microbiological examinations should not be performed systematically, but only under specific conditions. Antibiotherapy is based on simple principles: amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is the first-line treatment, administered orally wherever possible, and metronidazole should not be used. A careful analysis of the context and risk factors is essential for effective prevention. This is a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach involving rehabilitation, nutritional care and oral hygiene.