Impact of Prone Positioning With Continuous Enteral Nutrition on Aspiration Pneumonia in Non-Intubated Patients With COVID-19

Sari Winham, Michael LeGal, Jennifer Ernst, Ashley Foldes, Jasmine Cura and Courtney Fried

Clinical Nursing Research, 2025, vol. 34, issue 7, 393-400

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a triad of therapies for patients: oxygen, nutrition, and patient positioning. In the progressive care units, patients were placed in a prone position while receiving continuous enteral nutrition (EN) to optimize healing and oxygenation. The study aimed to identify the rate of aspiration pneumonia in non-ventilated COVID-19 patients placed in a prone position while receiving continuous EN. This was a single-group, descriptive retrospective study. The study was conducted at a two-time Magnet ® designated academic medical and health science center in the Southwestern United States. The sample included 97 electronic health records (EHRs) of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, receiving continuous EN, and placed in a prone position from March 15, 2020 to June 1, 2022. Data were extracted from EHRs using ICD-10 codes, including patient demographics, EN frequency, gastric tube placement, patient positioning, and incidence of aspiration pneumonia. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used. The Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test and Fisher’s exact test were employed for comparisons. Statistical significance was set at p  ≤ .05. Out of 97 patients, 8 (8.25%) developed aspiration pneumonia. The majority of patients (75%) had post-pyloric feeding tubes. All patients who developed aspiration pneumonia had post-pyloric tubes. Placing COVID-19 patients in a prone position while receiving continuous EN may be a safe practice. Diligent nursing assessment is crucial to minimize aspiration risk and optimize patient outcomes.

Keywords: adult patients; COVID-19; prone position; non-intubated; continuous enteral nutrition; aspiration pneumonia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:clnure:v:34:y:2025:i:7:p:393-400

DOI: 10.1177/10547738251368972

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