Short-term decline in all-cause acquired infections with the routine use of a decontamination regimen combining topical polymyxin, tobramycin, and amphotericin B with mupirocin and chlorhexidine in the ICU: a single-center experience.

Objectives: In a multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial, we showed that acquired infections in intubated patients were reduced by the combination of topical polymyxin plus tobramycin and nasal mupirocin plus chlorhexidine body wash. Because intubated patients are particularly at risk for acquired infections, we reassessed the impact of this protocol as a routine procedure to control acquired infections in the ICU.

Design: Nonrandomized study comparing acquired infections in ICU patients during two 1-year periods: the last year before (group A, n = 925) and the first year after the implementation of the protocol (group B, n = 1,022).

Late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia in nontrauma intensive care unit patients.

Background: Most studies designed to determine the factors associated with the acquisition of late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) were performed in critically ill trauma patients. The impact of enteral nutrition (EN) on the risk of acquiring VAP has been discussed. In this study, we assessed factors associated with late-onset VAP in nontrauma patients and determined whether nutrition provided early was associated with development of late-onset VAP in this population.