Influence of changing endotracheal tube cuff management on antibiotic use for ventilator-associated pneumonia in a tertiary intensive care unit.

Background: Routine deflation of the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff of critically ill patients receiving MV is common in Australia and New Zealand. Literature about ventilatorassociated pneumonia (VAP) and antibiotic use rates with different ETT cuff maintenance practices is lacking.

Objective: To determine the impact of a change in ETT cuff maintenance from a minimal leak technique to pressure manometry on the administration of antibiotics for VAP.