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Optimizing Antibiotic Treatment for Ventilator‐Associated Pneumonia
Author(s) -
Micek Scott T.,
Heuring Timothy J.,
Hollands James M.,
Shah Rina A.,
Kollef Marin H.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.26.2.204
Subject(s) - medicine , ventilator associated pneumonia , intensive care medicine , intensive care unit , pneumonia , antimicrobial , mechanical ventilation , antibiotics , antibiotic resistance , regimen , intensive care , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Ventilator‐associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common infectious complication in patients receiving mechanical ventilation and accounts for exorbitant use of resources in the intensive care unit. Antimicrobial management of VAP incorporates an initial broad‐spectrum, empiric regimen to ensure appropriate coverage with deescalation of therapy after 48–72 hours based on culture results and sensitivities. When VAP clinically responds to treatment, antimicrobials should be discontinued after 7–8 days to reduce overall antibiotic consumption and the selection pressure on flora observed in the intensive care unit and thus minimize the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance.