A link between pneumonia in older people and Proton-pump inhibitors

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has found a link between pneumonia in older people and Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) , a group of medicines commonly used to neutralize stomach acid in people with heartburn or stomach ulcers.   

Approximately 40 percent of older adults receive PPIs, although according to some experts, up to 85 percent of people who receive PPI prescriptions may not need them.   

Once thought to be relatively harmless, PPIs have more recently been linked to increased rates for certain health concerns like fractures, cardiovascular disease, and some bacterial infections. 

The association between PPI use and pneumonia was studied because stomach acid is a barrier to infections spreading from the gut in people with stomach reflux.