Study of Antibiotic Use Strategies for Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in Intensive Care Units

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating antimicrobial stewardship strategies in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia VAP in intensive care units ICU. VAP is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections in ICU, often treated with antibiotics, which can contribute to the growing problem of multidrug resistant bacteria worldwide. This study aims to determine if daily clinical assessment to guide antibiotic discontinuation can safely reduce antibiotic use without increasing mortality, treatment failure, or new pneumonia episodes. The study is a prospective, national multicenter, phase III, randomized, single-blinded trial comparing two treatment approaches for confirmed VAP. One group receives antimicrobial stewardship based on daily clinical evaluations to decide when to stop antibiotics if signs of clinical cure are met. The control group follows standard management with a mandatory minimum 7-day antibiotic course regardless of clinical improvement. Intensivists assess patients daily in both groups to guide treatment duration. Participants will undergo daily clinical assessments of signs like tracheal secretion regression, temperature normalization, and oxygenation improvement. Researchers will monitor outcomes such as all-cause mortality, treatment failure, new pneumonia episodes, antibiotic-free days, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay length, and antibiotic-related complications over 28 days. The study includes informed consent procedures and aims to assess safety and effectiveness of shorter antibiotic courses in ICU patients with VAP.

Antimicrobial Stewardship For Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in Intensive Care