[Prophylaxis and treatment of respiratory tract infection in ventilated patients by endotracheal administration of aminoglycosides (author's transl)].

The effects of intratracheal administration of gentamicin on frequency of bacterial contamination of the trachea and respiratory tract infection were assessed in a controlled and prospective study in 20 patients on a respirator. Gentamicin was instilled undiluted 6-hourly in a dosage of 40 mg into the trachea. Compared with a control group (n = 20), patients with intratracheal gentamicin instillation showed earlier reduction of tracheal bacterial contamination and during further ventilation a diminished rate of colonisation of the trachea. There was no evidence of an increase of Candida albicans. Pneumonic infiltrations regressed earlier in patients with intratracheal gentamicin. Respiratory tract infections were less frequent during continued artificial ventilation than in the control group. In ventilated patients intratracheal aminoglycosides can thus be recommended for prophylaxis of respiratory tract infections.