Therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia: what works, what doesn't.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor outcome. An initial aggressive strategy using broad-spectrum antibiotics based on the local distribution of pathogens, patient risk factors, and antimicrobial characteristics; followed by focused therapy based on microbiologic studies, will help minimize the chance of inappropriate therapy and the emergence of resistance.
Section of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, (MBC-46), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia. hijazim@hotmail.com
Mohammed
M
Hijazi
Mariam
M
Al-Ansari
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents