Current concepts in ventilator-associated pneumonia
Khoo, K.L.; Eng, P.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 26(6): 787-793
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0304-4602 PMID: 9522981 Document Number: 469460
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common problem in the intensive care unit (ICU). It is associated with a distinct spectrum of pathogens and its pathogenesis involves microaspiration of oropharyngeal organisms. Clinical and radiographic criteria have been shown to be unreliable in diagnosing VAP, and it remains a challenge for intensivists to utilise the array of diagnostic procedures at their disposal to optimise diagnostic accuracy (improve specificity) and guide in therapy. These procedures and guided antibiotic therapy may not always improve the outcome and therefore simple preventive measures should be employed to reduce the incidence.