title: Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
abstract: Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) represents a risk factor for the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which develops at least 48h after admission in patients ventilated through tracheostomy or endotracheal intubation. VAP is the most frequent intensive-care-unit (ICU)-acquired infection among patients receiving IMV. It contributes to an increase in hospital mortality, duration of MV and ICU and length of hospital stay. Therefore, it worsens the condition of the critical patient and increases the total cost of hospitalization. The introduction of preventive measures has become imperative, to ensure control and to reduce the incidence of VAP. Preventive measures focus on modifiable risk factors, mediated by non-pharmacological and pharmacological evidence based strategies recommended by guidelines. These measures are intended to reduce the risk associated with endotracheal intubation and to prevent microaspiration of pathogens to the lower airways.
authors.affiliation: CIIEM, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Monte de Caparica, Portugal; TechnoPhage S.A., Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: CIIEM, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Monte de Caparica, Portugal; Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zagalo
authors.affiliation: CIIEM, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Monte de Caparica, Portugal; TechnoPhage S.A., Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: patsilva@netcabo.pt.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cavaco-Silva
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Mechanical ventilation; Pneumonia associada ao ventilador; Prevention; Prevenção; Ventilator-associated pneumonia; Ventilação mecânica