Probiotics for Preventing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common nosocomial infection that can develop 48-72 hours following endotracheal intubation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Its development can lead not only to an increased length of ICU stay and morbidity/ mortality for the patient but also increased healthcare costs for the organisation. Many of the current interventions form part of routine ICU nursing care and focus on decreasing the risk of colonisation and aspiration through a combination of hand washing, patient positioning, oral decontamination, suctioning of subglottic secretions, stress ulcer prophylaxis, periodic sedative interruptions or ventilator weaning, use of silver-coated endotracheal tubes and prophylactic antimicrobial therapy.