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Review
. 2020 Jan 31;9(2):51.
doi: 10.3390/antibiotics9020051.

Ventilator-Associated Tracheobronchitis: To Treat or Not to Treat?

Despoina Koulenti  1   2 , Kostoula Arvaniti  3 , Mathew Judd  1 , Natasha Lalos  1 , Iona Tjoeng  1 , Elena Xu  1 , Apostolos Armaganidis  2 , Jeffrey Lipman  1   4   5
Affiliations
Review

Ventilator-Associated Tracheobronchitis: To Treat or Not to Treat?

Despoina Koulenti et al. Antibiotics (Basel). .

Abstract

Ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) is an infection commonly affecting mechanically ventilated intubated patients. Several studies suggest that VAT is associated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and a presumptive increase in healthcare costs. Uncertainties remain, however, regarding the cost/benefit balance of VAT treatment. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the two fundamental and inter-related dilemmas regarding VAT, i.e., (i) how to diagnose VAT? and (ii) should we treat VAT? If yes, should we treat all cases or only selected ones? How should we treat in terms of antibiotic choice, route, treatment duration?

Keywords: VAT; diagnosis; inhaled antibiotics; treatment; ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest related to the manuscript. JL reports: Advisory Board with MSD and honorarium for lectures from Pfizer and MSD.

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