Effect of Ondansetron on Prevention of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in Intensive Care Unit Patients in Kashani Hospital in 2013.

INTRODUCTION

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common infection with high mortality (24-50%). Ondansetron is a reliable and safe drug and it is currently used in the prevention of nausea and vomiting and has no side effects.

AIM

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of ondansetron on prevention of VAP in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was a randomized clinical trial study (IRCT201406156480N6), carried out at Kashani Hospital, Iran, in 2013 on 80 patients aged from 15-65 years. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups: Case group (n=40) and Control group (n=40). The patients in first group were injected with 4 mg ondansetron, twice daily for five days. The patients of other group were injected with distilled water as placebo. The presence of VAP was assessed in the two groups. The collected data were analysed by SPSS software through Fisher-exact test.

RESULTS

Eleven (13.8%) patients were diagnosed with VAP. Among them, 9 (81.8%) patients were male and 2 (18.2%) patients were female. The incidence of VAP in Case group was 5 (12.5%) patients and in Control group was 6 (15%) patients (p>0.05). Results showed that VAP in Case group was less prevalent than that in the Control group, but this difference was not significant.

CONCLUSION

The study did not find an association between ondansetron administration and reduction in VAP incidence; vomiting alone may not be leading to VAP, instead silent micro aspirations may be the cause of it. None of the factor such as age, sex, weight, smoking, drug addiction was found significantly related to VAP. Only variable found related was comorbidity.