Selective decontamination of subglottic area in mechanically ventilated patients with multiple trauma.

Objective: To determine whether selective decontamination locally in the subglottic area (SDSA) reduces tracheal colonization and prevents ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients with multiple trauma.

Design And Setting: A prospective randomized, controlled, clinical study in a 14-bed general intensive care unit of a university hospital.

Patients: 79 consecutive multiple trauma patients admitted to the ICU who were expected to be mechanically ventilated for more than 5 days; 61 patients completed the protocol.