Study of Inhaled Antibiotics for Prevention of Tracheobronchitis and Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

INTRODUCTION Gram-negative bacteria have recently become endemic in many ICUs around the world. Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is relatively common and its parenteral treatment often leads to low and sub-therapeutic concentrations of antibiotics in the lung. Ventilator associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) is characterized by fever, purulent sputum, positive cultures of tracheal aspirates secretions and the absence of new pulmonary infiltrates on CXR. This entity is of particular interest because it is an intermediate step in the pathogenesis of VAP (between colonization and VAP itself) and prolongs mechanical ventilatory support. Inhaled antibiotics achieve high (both peak and trough) concentrations in respiratory secretions. Endobronchial antibiotics have been given to non-cystic fibrosis patients for prevention of VAP. Colistimethate sodium (colistin) given by instillation decreased the incidence of Gram-negative pneumonia and did not lead to the development of colistin resistant bacteria.

AIM

The study is a prospective open label randomized study which aims to clarify the effect of colistin to:

1. The incidence of VAP The incidence of VAT
2. Mechanical ventilation free days
3. Incidence of multidrug resistant bacteria in tracheal aspirates cultures

METHODS Settings: The study will be performed in the ICU of the University of Larissa (12 beds).