Antibiotics cut ventilation pneumonia risk: study
A randomised controlled trial was undertaken in 16 ICUs
13th November 2019
By Clare Pain
Two days of prophylactic antibiotic treatment administered shortly after cardiac arrest can cut early ventilation-associated pneumonia in selected patients, a French trial shows.
Nearly 200 adult patients, with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with shockable rhythm and on targeted temperature management between 32°C and 34°C, were randomised either to injections of amoxicillin-clavulanate (1g/200mg three times daily) or to saline placebo injections for two days.
Targeted temperature management was a known risk factor for