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Query: UMLS:C0040586 (tracheobronchitis)
 449 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) often require lung organ support. The use of mechanical ventilation, while lifesaving can be associated with subsequent complications. The most common complication in patients under mechanical ventilation is the development of ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTIs). Before the development of VA-LRTI, there is a continuum process that ranges from airway colonization to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). There is an intermediate process called ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT). Contemporary treatment of VA-LRTI emphasizes the importance of prompt broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy. Previous studies reported prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay in patients with VAT. This negative impact on outcome is related to increased inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, sputum production, and higher rates of VAP. Extubation failure and difficult weaning have been reported to be associated with increased sputum volume in mechanically ventilated patients. Antibiotic treatment for VAT patients is still a matter for debate. Observational studies suggested a beneficial effect of antimicrobial treatment in VAT patients, including a reduced duration of mechanical ventilation and lower rates of subsequent VAP. Previous studies demonstrated beneficial effects of systemic and aerosolized antibiotics in preventing VAP in critically ill patients. However, antibiotic treatment is a recognized risk factor for the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Infections related to these bacteria are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and cost. Therefore, a large well-designed study is warranted to determine whether patients with VAT should receive antimicrobials. Furthermore, a short course of antimicrobials could be sufficient in these patients.
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PMID:Should We Treat Ventilator-Associated Tracheobronchitis with Antibiotics? 2857 51

Introduction: Intubation is required to maintain the airways in comatose patients and enhance oxygenation in hypoxemic or ventilation in hypercapnic subjects. Recently, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) created new surveillance definitions designed to identify complications associated with poor outcomes. Areas covered: The new framework proposed by CDC, Ventilator-Associated Events (VAE), has a range of definitions encompassing Ventilator-Associated Conditions (VAC), Infection-related Ventilator-Associated Complications (IVAC), or Possible Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia - suggesting replacing the traditional definitions of Ventilator-Associated Tracheobronchitis (VAT) and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP). They focused more on oxygenation variations than on Chest-X rays or inflammatory biomarkers. This article will review the spectrum of infectious (VAP & VAT) complications, as well as the main non-infectious complications, namely pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and atelectasis. Strategies to limit these complications and improve outcomes will be presented. Expert commentary: Improving outcomes should be the objective of implementing bundles of prevention, based on risk factors amenable of intervention. Promotion of measures that reduce the exposition or duration of intubation should be a priority.
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PMID:Limiting ventilator-associated complications in ICU intubated subjects: strategies to prevent ventilator-associated events and improve outcomes. 3046 Aug 68


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