Evaluation of a clinical pathway for ventilator-associated pneumonia: changes in bacterial flora and the adequacy of empiric antibiotics over a three-year period.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of causative pathogens is vital for optimizing empiric antibiotic therapy of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Based on previous data (Ann Surg 1998;227:743-755), empiric antibiotics for our VAP clinical pathway were modified to target early and late occurring pathogens (ampicillin/sulbactam during the first week of hospitalization; cefepime plus vancomycin afterwards). The objectives of this study were to compare organisms causing VAP over a three-year period to previous data, and to determine the adequacy of the empiric antibiotic regimens. METHODS: A total of 299 critically ill trauma patients with VAP over a three-year period were studied retrospectively. The incidence of pathogens causing VAP in the study period were compared to a previously published study of a two-year period in our intensive care unit (ICU). Sensitivities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii were evaluated over the study period. The adequacy of empiric antibiotic therapy for each episode of VAP was determined. Therapy was considered to be adequate if one or more antibiotics had in vitro activity against the organism causing VAP. RESULTS: Statistically significant changes in pathogens included increased Staphylococcus aureus (incidence 17% vs. 11%, p = 0.024) and decreased Acinetobacter baumannii (11% vs. 22%, p < 0.001). Susceptibility patterns were statistically unchanged except for increased resistance of P. aeruginosa to extended-spectrum penicillins (p = 0.016). Empiric therapy was adequate in 76% of VAP episodes. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical pathway's empiric antibiotic regimen was associated with only modest changes in organisms causing VAP and provided a high rate of adequate empiric coverage.

Tetracyclines for treating multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii ventilator-associated pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To report the use of tetracyclines for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). DESIGN: Observational case series. SETTING: . The Presley Regional Trauma Center located within the Regional Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Seven critically ill trauma patients with VAP caused by A. baumannii isolates that were resistant to all antibiotics tested except for doxycycline or minocycline. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were treated with IV doxycycline or minocycline for an average of 13.5 (range 9-20) days. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Doxycycline or minocycline was successful in six of seven patients. CONCLUSIONS: Doxycycline or minocycline may be effective for treating multidrug-resistant A. baumannii VAP.