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Article: Reduction in Inadequate Empiric Antibiotic Therapy for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Impact of a Unit-Specific Treatment Pathway/DISCUSSION
- Article from:
- The American Surgeon
- Article date:
- June 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Southeastern Surgical Congress Jun 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Empiric antibiotic therapy is routinely initiated for patients with presumed ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Reported mortality rates for inadequate empiric antibiotic therapy (IEAT) for VAP range from 45 to 91 per cent. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a unit-specific pathway for the empiric management of VAP on reducing IEAT episodes and improving outcomes in trauma patients. Patients admitted with VAP over 36-months were identified and stratified by gender, age, severity of shock, and injury severity. Outcomes included number of IEAT episodes, ventilator days, intensive care unit days, hospital days, and mortality. Three hundred and ninety-three patients ...