Short-course versus prolonged-course antibiotic therapy for hospital-acquired pneumonia in critically ill adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pneumonia is the most common hospital-acquired infection affecting patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, current national guidelines for the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) are several years old and the diagnosis of pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients (VAP) has been subject to considerable recent attention. The optimal duration of antibiotic therapy for HAP in the critically ill is uncertain.

Objectives

To assess the effectiveness of short versus prolonged-course antibiotics for HAP in critically ill adults, including patients with VAP.

Search methods

We searched CENTRAL (2015, Issue 5), MEDLINE (1946 to June 2015), MEDLINE in-process and other non-indexed citations (5 June 2015), EMBASE (2010 to June 2015), LILACS (19

SUBMITTER: Pugh R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7025798 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature