[Quality of care assessment and nosocomial pneumonia in the intensive care unit].

INTRODUCTION

Nosocomial pneumonia (NP) is a major cause of infection in the intensive care unit and is responsible for a significant increase in morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the most frequent and severe form of NP.

STATE OF ART

Assessment of the quality of care and healthcare practices relating to the prevention and treatment of nosocomial pneumonia represents a potentially vast area but has been little studied in the literature. Difficulties include the lack of either a "gold standard" for diagnosis, or standardization of techniques for microbiological sampling and, therefore, the lack of reliable indicators of performance in the management of NP. Currently, published data mainly involve diagnostic strategies, preventive measures and antibiotic therapy.

PERSPECTIVES AND CONCLUSIONS

In line with the latest published recommendations, clinicians should continue their efforts in this field to improve the management and reduce the impact of NP in the intensive care unit.