title: Guideline for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of paediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) has been poorly studied in South Africa, but is likely to be a significant problem, with resulting increased morbidity and mortality in the paediatric intensive care unit population. This guideline is intended to review the evidence and recommendations for prevention and management of VAP in children and to provide, where possible, clear advice to aid the care of these children, to limit costly and unnecessary therapies and--importantly--limit inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents,
  
  
  METHODS
  The Working Group was constituted. Literature on the aetiology, prevention and management of paediatric VAP is reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are provided for VAP diagnosis and prevention in South Africa. In addition, the current status of antimicrobial use has been reviewed and clear recommendations are set out.
authors: Division of Paediatric Critical Care and Children's Heart Disease, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town and Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Rondebosch.
authors: B M
authors: BM
authors: Morrow
authors: A C
authors: AC
authors: Argent
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Jeena
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Green
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000592:standards; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents