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Review
. 2002 Feb;6(1):45-51.
doi: 10.1186/cc1452. Epub 2001 Jan 11.

Clinical review: non-antibiotic strategies for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia

Ricard Ferrer  1 , Antonio Artigas
Affiliations
Review

Clinical review: non-antibiotic strategies for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia

Ricard Ferrer et al. Crit Care. 2002 Feb.

Abstract

Prevention of nosocomial pneumonia (NP) is the most important step towards reducing hospitalisation costs. The non-antibiotic prevention strategies include measures related to the correct care of the artificial airway, strategies related directly to the maintenance of the mechanical ventilator and the equipment, strategies focused in the gastrointestinal tract, and strategies related to the position of the intubated patients. While simple methods should be part of routine practice, the use of more invasive and expensive preventive measures should be used only in patients who are at high risk of NP. The appropriate use of these techniques can reduce the incidence of NP in intensive care unit patients.

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