Nosocomial pneumonia in the ICU patient

Although mechanically ventilated patients represent only a small proportion of the hospital population at risk for pneumonia, they are generally seriously ill with disproportionately high rates of pneumonia and fatality. Hand carriage of nosocomial pathogens is a well-known mode of transmission and can be substantially reduced by proper handwashing. Knowledge of the potential hazards of all respiratory therapy equipment and tubing condensate is essential in preventing transmission of nosocomial pathogens that are often implicated in hospital-acquired pneumonia in ventilated patients. Administration of prophylactic antibiotics may reduce the risk of pneumonia, but more studies are needed in this area. Over the past decade there has been significant progress in the prevention of nosocomial pneumonia, but more research is needed to firmly establish the efficacy of these concepts in specific subsets of hospitalized patients.