Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the main cause of death and disability in individuals under the age of 45 years, and is considered a major public health issue worldwide. It is known that a single moderate-to-severe TBI is capable of causing profound changes in a patient’s life; some will live with long-lasting motor and cognitive deficits and will require rehabilitation treatments.
Disability after head trauma also includes chronic conditions such as depression, headaches and epilepsy. Recent studies have demonstrated that TBI results in a persistent inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a normal response to an injury and infection, but when it becomes exacerbated and prolonged it can leads to various complications such as worsening of brain damage and decreased capacity to fight against bacteria and other microorganisms. More than half of patients who suffered TBI will develop infections in the hospital setting and they are 4 times more likely to die of pneumonia. The aim of this project is to critically review clinical studies from the last 10 years about chronic TBI patients and their risk to develop respiratory infections. The compilation of these studies will provide a foundation for clinical care improvement as well as guide future studies in the field.
