Systemic and endotracheal antibiotic prophylaxis of nosocomial pneumonia in ICU

Abstract

Nosocomial pneumonias, especially in ventilated patients, are a continuing problem in modern medicine. Pathogens most commonly involved with these pneumonias are Enterobacteriaceae, Ps. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Several prevention measures for nosocomial pneumonia are possible such as parenteral and topical antibiotics-a very controversial issue. Several studies with parenteral antibiotics, starting as early as 1954, could not prove any benefit of parenteral antibiotics in pneumonia prevention. Topical antibiotics, starting with polymyxin or gentamicin via the endotracheal tube in the 70s, gave controversial results. In a prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study with gentamicin via the endotracheal tube in ventilated ICU patients we found no significant reduction of pneumonia rate and mortality. However, the combined, approach (SDD) of oropharyngeal, gastrointestinal and parenteral use of certain antibiotics appears to give promising results in specific patient subgroups such as ventilated polytrauma patients in ICU. © 1992 Springer-Verlag.