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Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device
09:36

Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device

Published on: September 24, 2020

To Give or Not to Give Inhaled Antibiotics: Heterogeneous Effects of Inhaled Antibiotics in Ventilated Patients in

Tina H Dao1, Jason Harhay2,3, Rida N Khan1

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, USA.

Cureus
|June 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Inhaled antibiotics may shorten hospital stays for patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) but do not significantly affect ICU stays, ventilator duration, or culture clearance. Further research is needed to clarify their role in VAP treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant cause of ICU morbidity and mortality.
  • Inhaled antibiotics offer targeted lung pathogen treatment for VAP.
  • Limited data exist on the efficacy and safety of inhaled antibiotics for VAP.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of inhaled antibiotics on clinical outcomes in VAP patients.
  • To assess effects on hospital length of stay, ICU duration, ventilator days, and culture clearance.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study at Regional One Health, Memphis, TN.
  • Included 383 ventilated patients diagnosed with VAP.
  • Compared outcomes for 52 patients receiving inhaled antibiotics versus standard care.

Main Results:

  • Inhaled antibiotics associated with shorter hospital length of stay (LOS) (IRR=0.89, P<0.001).
  • No significant difference in ICU LOS (IRR=1.05, P=0.11).
  • No significant association with ventilator duration or respiratory culture clearance.

Conclusions:

  • Inhaled antibiotics may not be universally required for all ICU VAP patients.
  • Additional research is necessary to define the precise role of inhaled antibiotics in VAP management.
  • Findings suggest a potential benefit for hospital LOS, warranting further investigation.
Keywords:
antibacterial synergyantibiotic usageinhaled drugsintensive care unit (icu)ventilator-associated pneumonia

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