Document Detail


Antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving intensive care.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19821262     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is an important cause of mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). The incidence of pneumonia in ICU patients ranges between 7% and 40%, and the crude mortality from ventilator-associated pneumonia may exceed 50%. Although not all deaths in patients with this form of pneumonia are directly attributable to pneumonia, it has been shown to contribute to mortality in ICUs independently of other factors that are also strongly associated with such deaths. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of prophylactic antibiotic regimens, such as selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) for the prevention of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and overall mortality in adults receiving intensive care. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2009, issue 1), which contains the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) Group's Specialised Register; MEDLINE (January 1966 to March 2009); and EMBASE (January 1990 to March 2009). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of antibiotic prophylaxis for RTIs and deaths among adult ICU patients. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: At least two review authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. MAIN RESULTS: We included 36 trials involving 6914 people. There was variation in the antibiotics used, patient characteristics and risk of RTIs and mortality in the control groups. In trials comparing a combination of topical and systemic antibiotics, there was a significant reduction in both RTIs (number of studies = 16, odds ratio (OR) 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20 to 0.38) and total mortality (number of studies = 17, OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.87) in the treated group. In trials comparing topical antimicrobials alone (or comparing topical plus systemic versus systemic alone) there was a significant reduction in RTIs (number of studies = 17, OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.63) but not in total mortality (number of studies = 19, OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.16) in the treated group. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: A combination of topical and systemic prophylactic antibiotics reduces RTIs and overall mortality in adult patients receiving intensive care. Treatment based on the use of topical prophylaxis alone reduces respiratory infections but not mortality. The risk of resistance occurring as a negative consequence of antibiotic use was appropriately explored only in one trial which did not show any such effect.
Authors:
Alessandro Liberati; Roberto D'Amico; Silvia Pifferi; Valter Torri; Luca Brazzi; Elena Parmelli
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Meta-Analysis; Review     Date:  2009-10-07
Journal Detail:
Title:  Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online)     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1469-493X     ISO Abbreviation:  Cochrane Database Syst Rev     Publication Date:  2009  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-10-12     Completed Date:  2010-01-27     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100909747     Medline TA:  Cochrane Database Syst Rev     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  CD000022     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Italian Cochrane Centre, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Via La Masa, 19, Milan, Italy, 20156.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
Antibiotic Prophylaxis*
Cross Infection / mortality,  prevention & control*
Hospital Mortality*
Humans
Intensive Care*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Respiratory Tract Infections / mortality,  prevention & control*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Bacterial Agents
Comments/Corrections
Update Of:
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(1):CD000022   [PMID:  14973945 ]

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