title: Prevention of gram-negative bacillary pneumonia using aerosol polymyxin as prophylaxis. I. Effect on the colonization pattern of the upper respiratory tract of seriously ill patients.
abstract: A prospective study used polymyxin B by aerosol to reduce colonization of the upper respiratory tract with nosocomial gram-negative bacilli. 58 high-risk patients from the Respiratory-Surgical Intensive Care Unit entered the trial. 33 were randomly selected to receive 2.5 mg/kg/day of polymyxin B by hand atomizer into the pharynx, and tracheal tube if present. 17 of 25 control patients became colonized with gram-negative bacilli as compared with 7 of 33 polymyxin-treated patients (p < 0.01). Control patients became colonized with a total of 33 gram-negative bacilli: 3 were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 21 were species of Enterobacteriaceae. The polymyxin-treated patients became colonized with a total of 11 gram-negative bacilli: no P. aeruginosa and only 3 species of Enterobacteriaceae were recovered. Colonization increased with duration in Respiratory-Surgical Intensive Care Unit and with time of required controlled ventilation. Polymyxin most effectively prevented the increase in colonization in treated patients who stayed in the Respiratory-Surgical Intensive Care Unit for longer than 1 wk and who required controlled ventilation for at least 72 h.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D001419:Bacteria; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011113:Polymyxins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D011113:Polymyxins