title: Nosocomial gram-negative pneumonia in critically ill patients. A 3-year experience with a novel therapeutic regimen.
abstract: The efficacy of selective decontamination of the oral cavity and GI-tract in the treatment of established gram-negative pneumonia in critically ill patients was evaluated in a prospective open trial. 25 patients with pneumonia caused by Enterobacteriaceae or Pseudomonadaceae were studied. All patients were mechanically ventilated (range 2-60 days). Non-absorbable antibiotics (polymyxin E 100 mg, tobramycin 80 mg, amphotericin B 500 mg) were administered through the nasogastric tube four times a day. The oral cavity was decontaminated with an ointment containing 2% of the same antibiotics, applied to the buccal mucosa four times a day. For systemic therapy a combination of tobramycin (3-6 mg X kg-1) with either cefotaxim (50-100 mg X kg-1) or ceftazidime (100 mg X kg-1) was given both intravenously and by aerosol (50% IV dose/5 ml saline) four times a day. Eradication of pathogens from the respiratory tract was achieved in 24 patients within 9 days (median 5 days). The cure rate was 96%. Two patients had a relapse. Neither recolonization with resistant organisms nor supra-infections were found for the remaining period of mechanical ventilation (up to 60 days), also after systemic/aerosol therapy had been discontinued. Only 3 patients died (12%).
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009824:Ointments