Ventilator-associated pneumonia: gearing towards shorter-course therapy

Ventilator-associated pneumonia: gearing towards shorter-course therapy

Chua T D; File T M

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases

2006

2006-04

Purpose of review The studies that are reviewed in this article have all concluded that a shorter duration of antibiotic therapy (7-8 days) may be adequate in the treatment of the majority of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia, and does not confer an increased incidence of mortality. Recent findings Ventilator-associated pneumonia has traditionally been treated with at least 2 weeks of antimicrobial therapy. With the increasing emergence of multi-drug-resistant pathogens, however, efforts have been directed at minimizing the duration of therapy. Several studies have emerged over the last few years aiming to shorten the duration of antimicrobial therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia. Summary The minimum effective duration of antibiotic therapy, however, remains unclear. Further studies geared towards determining this are needed.

pneumonia; Infectious Diseases; trial; infection; antibiotic-therapy; resolution; Antimicrobial therapy; duration of therapy; pseudomonas-aeruginosa; ventilator-associated

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Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication

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Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

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