Evaluation of Immunonutrition For Patients With Pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit.

Pneumonia is defined as an infection process of the lung parenchyma, which results from the invasion and overgrowth of microorganisms, breaking down defences, and provoking intra-alveolar exudates. Patients with pneumonia become malnourished ,exhibit declining health and changes in weight loss, and impair respiratory muscle contractility. Adequate nutrition aids respiratory muscle function and immune defence mechanisms. Therefore, the major role of nutrition in pneumonia is reducing malnutrition that induces high mortality and morbidity and maintaining impaired respiratory muscle contractility.

Pulmonary failure is associated with increased catabolism and decreased gut absorption. If respiratory failure require mechanical ventilation or patient need non-invasive ventilation. The presence of an artificial airway prevents volitional nutrition intake, leading to an energy deficit, the underlying process leading to respiratory failure may induce protein catabolism, causing loss of diaphragmatic and intercostal muscle mass, impairing immunity, impairing wound healing, and increasing the risk for new infection. Nutrition support also protects patients by minimizing malnutrition and loss of lean body mass.

Immunonutrition refers to modulation of the immune system provided by specific interventions that modify dietary nutrients. Several specialized enteral and parenteral formulas with immunonutrients are currently available on the market. These primarily consist of a combination of antioxidant vitamins (eg, vitamin C, vitamin E, ß-carotene), trace elements (eg, selenium, zinc), essential amino acids (eg, glutamine, arginine)or essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 fatty acids (eg, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid), and Ƴ-linolenic acid.