The utility of endotracheal aspirate bacteriology in identifying mechanically ventilated patients at risk for ventilator associated pneumonia: a single-center prospective observational study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a well-known, life-threatening disease that persists despite preventative measures and approved antibiotic therapies. This prospective observational study investigated bacterial airway colonization, and whether its detection and quantification in the endotracheal aspirate (ETA) is useful for identifying mechanically ventilated ICU patients who are at risk of developing VAP.

Methods

240 patients admitted to 3 ICUs at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center (Burlington, MA) between June 2014 and June 2015 and mechanically ventilated for > 2 days were included. ETA samples and clinical data were collected. Airway colonization was assessed, and subsequently categorized into "heavy" and "light" by semi-quantitative microbiological

SUBMITTER: Kabak E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6716855 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature