Abstract
The optimal length of antimicrobial therapy has not been extensively studied for a great majority of infections and, in critically ill patients affected by ventilator-associated pneumonia, is a persisting and unsolved issue confronting clinicians. The integration of biomarkers, clinical judgment, and microbiologic eradication might help to define a shorter duration for some ventilator-associated pneumonia episodes due to non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli, but until these strategies are implemented in clinical practice for individualizing antibiotic treatment, a short-course duration does not seem to tailor a long benefit.
Highlights
In the previous issue of Critical Care, Kollef and colleagues [1] compared 7 days of doripenem with 10 days of imipenem in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Gram-negative bacilli (GNB)
The optimal length of antimicrobial therapy has not been extensively studied for a great majority of infections and, in critically ill patients affected by VAP, is a persisting and unsolved issue confronting clinicians
Chastre and colleagues [8] performed a randomized study that found that an 8-day duration of treatment was associated with an outcome similar to that of a 15-day treatment in terms of mortality, ventilator-free days, and stay in the intensive care unit (ICU); interestingly, there were no differences in super-infection and relapse of pneumonia, but for primary infections caused by NFGNB, a higher percentage of patients developed documented pulmonary infection recurrence in the 8-day than the 15-day group (41% versus 26%)
Summary
In the previous issue of Critical Care, Kollef and colleagues [1] compared 7 days of doripenem with 10 days of imipenem in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Gram-negative bacilli (GNB). Introduction In the previous issue of Critical Care, Kollef and colleagues [1] compared 7 days of doripenem with 10 days of imipenem in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Gram-negative bacilli (GNB).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
