Will nursing ICU patients in semi-recumbent positions reduce rates of nosocomial infection?
Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the main cause of ICU-acquired infection. Infection significantly increases mortality, length of ICU stay and costs (both financial and humanitarian). Ventilator-associated pneumonia is usually caused by aspiration. Ventilator-associated pneumonia risks are highest among patients who are fed through a nasogastric/orogastric tube. A semi-recumbent position reduces the risk of aspiration, so should reduce the risk of acquiring ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Whittington Education Center, Middlesex University, Highgate Hill, London N19 5NF. p.woodrow@mdx.ac.uk
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D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners; D011187:Posture; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000451:nursing*