Frequency, prevention, outcome and treatment of ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify issues regarding the frequency, prevention, outcome, and treatment of patients with ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT), which is a lower respiratory tract infection involving the tracheobronchial tree, while sparing the lung parenchyma.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant available data, gathered though searches of PubMed, Scopus, and reference lists, without time restrictions. A conservative random effects model was used to calculate pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Out of the 564 initially retrieved articles, 17 papers were included. Frequency of VAT was 11.5%. Selective digestive decontamination was not proved an effective preventive strategy against VAT (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.31e1.26). Presence, as opposed to the absence, of VAT was not associated with higher attributable mortality (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.57e1.81). Administration of systemic antimicrobials (with or without inhaled ones), as opposed to placebo or no treatment, in patients with VAT was not associated with lower mortality (OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.27e1.14). Most of the studies providing relevant data noted that administration of antimicrobial agents, as opposed to placebo or no treatment, in patients with VAT was associated with lower frequency of subsequent pneumonia and more ventilator-free days, but without shorter length of intensive care unit stay or shorter duration of mechanical ventilation.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately one tenth of mechanically ventilated patients suffer from VAT. Antimicrobial treatment of patients with VAT may protect against the development of subsequent ventilator-associated pneumonia and improve weaning outcome.