Ventilator-associated pneumonia risk factors

Community-acquired pneumonia Health care-associated, ventilator-asociated, or nosocomial pneumonia (Early onset no risk factors for MDR pathogens) Third-generation cephalosporin plus a macrolide or doxycycline Third-generation cephalosporin OR Fluoroquinolone OR Ampicillin-sulbactam OR Ertapenem... 

Health care-associated, ventilator-associated, or nosocomial pneumonia (Late onset and/or MDR pathogen risk factors) Antipseudomonal penicillin OR Antipseudomonal cephalosporin OR Antipseudomonal carbapenem plus Aminoglycoside OR Antipseudomonal fluoroquinolone plus Vancomycin or linezolid... 

Treatment for septic patients with hospital-acquired, ventilator-acquired, and health care-associated pneumonia is dependent on risk factors for multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms (Fig. 79-2). Recommended treatment for patients with no MDR risk factors are third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, ampicillin-sulbactam, or ertapenem (see Table 79-3).35 Recommended treatment for patients with MDR risk factors are P-lactam/p-lactamase inhibitors (piperacillin-tazobactam), antipseudomonal cephalosporin, or carbapenem, plus an aminoglycoside, plus vancomycin or linezolid (see Table 79-3).35 If an aminoglycoside is undesirable, a antipseudomonal fluoroquinolone may be utilized with a P-lactam/p-lactamase inhibitor. 

Table 4 Ventilator-Associated Risk Factors and Preventive Measures for Nosocomial Pneumonia...

Intubation associated with mechanical ventilation is the single most important risk factor for the development of nosocomial pneumonia and tracheitis. Intubation should be used only when medically indicated. Extubation should be accomplished as quickly as it is clinically feasible. It may be appropriate for individual pediatric and neonatal intensive care units to develop criteria for intubation and continued mechanical ventilation. Auditing practice versus predetermined criteria might identify opportunities to reduce patient ventilator-days. 

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