Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia.

Link to article at PubMed

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Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia.

Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2014 Aug;35(4):469-481

Authors: Bassi GL, Ferrer M, Marti JD, Comaru T, Torres A

Abstract
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an iatrogenic pulmonary infection that develops in tracheally intubated patients on mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours. VAP is the nosocomial infection with the greatest impact on patient outcomes and health care costs. Endogenous colonization by aerobic gram-negative pathogens, that is, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of VAP. Several preventive strategies have shown efficacy in decreasing VAP incidence and are often implemented altogether as a prevention bundle. In patients with clinical suspicion of VAP, respiratory samples should be promptly collected. The empiric treatment should be based on the local prevalence of pathogens, duration of hospital stay, and prior antimicrobial therapy. The antibiotics can be stopped or adjusted to more narrow-spectrum once cultures and susceptibilities are available.

PMID: 25111643 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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