Abstract
DOI of original article: 10.1016/j.jss.2012.0 * Corresponding author. Department of Surg 62008, Houston, TX 77026. Tel.: þ1 713 566 5 E-mail address: Lillian.S.Kao@uth.tmc.ed 0022-4804/$ e see front matter a 2013 Elsev http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2012.09.025 Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), defined as pneumonia that occurs within 48e72 h of endotracheal intubation, has been reported to occur in up to 52% of critically ill patients [1]. VAP is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, the length of hospital stay, and excess costs [2]. Given the magnitude of the problem, there has been an impetus to identify processes of care that are linked to outcome such as appropriate antibiotic coverage and timing in patients with suspected VAP. In 2005, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) published the consensus guidelines for the management of VAP. The guidelines provided recommendations for the prompt initiation of antibiotic therapy, use of appropriate antibiotics with adequate coverage based on risk for multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, selection of an antibiotic from an alternative class when VAP develops after prior antibiotic exposure, adaptation of antibiotic protocols to local resistance patterns, and de-escalation of antibiotics based on microbiology [3].
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: 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.