Does ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis need antibiotic treatment?
It is difficult to define ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT). The most accepted definition includes fever (temperature > 38 degrees C), new or increased sputum production, a microbiologically positive respiratory sample with counts above the accepted thresholds and absence of pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray. Although we have no doubt that this pathologic process exists, the main controversy lies on whether this entity has any impact on the outcome and, thus, a specific therapeutic approach is suitable. We will discuss the strengths and drawbacks of the article on this topic published in this issue by Nseir et al.
Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. atorres@clinic.ub.es
Antonio
A
Torres
Mauricio
M
Valencia
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents