Manipulation of the microbiome in critical illness-probiotics as a preventive measure against ventilator-associated pneumonia.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe the possible modes of action of probiotics and provide a systematic review of the current evidence on the efficacy of probiotics to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients.

Methods

We conducted an unrestricted search of the English language medical literature. For each individual study, the relative risk of VAP was calculated using the reported primary outcome data.

Results

The search identified a total of 72 articles. Eight articles enrolling a total of 1229 patients fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In four trials, the investigators were blinded for the intervention, and two trials used an intention-to-treat analysis. Loss to follow-up with regard to the primary endpoint ranged from 0 to 14% in the

SUBMITTER: van Ruissen MCE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6658628 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature