Prevention of hospital-acquired pneumonia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is the leading cause of death from hospital-acquired infection. Little work has been done on strategies for prevention of HAP. This review aims to describe potential HAP prevention strategies and the evidence supporting them. Oral care and aspiration precautions may attenuate some risk for HAP. Oral and digestive decontamination with antibiotics may be effective but could increase risk for resistant organisms. Other preventive measures, including isolation practices, remain theoretical or experimental.

RECENT FINDINGS: Hospital-acquired pneumonia occurs because of pharyngeal colonization with pathogenic organisms and subsequent aspiration of these pathogens.

SUMMARY: Most potential HAP prevention strategies remain unproven.