Selective decontamination of the digestive tract reduced intensive care unit and hospital mortality in adults
Q Does selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) reduce mortality and acquisition of resistant bacteria in adult patients in the intensive care unit (ICU)?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
{concealed}*.
Blinding:
unblinded.
Follow up period:
to hospital discharge.
Setting:
an ICU at an academic medical centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Patients:
1090 patients >18 years of age (mean age 60 y, 59% men; based on n = 934), who had an expected duration of mechanical ventilation ⩾48 hours, an expected ICU stay of ⩾72 hours, or both. Exclusion criteria: previous ICU admission within 3 months, known hypersensitivity to study medication, pregnancy, perceived imminent death, and participation in another study.
Intervention:
537 patients were allocated to the SDD unit, and received 0.5 g of an oral paste (2% polymyxin E, 2% tobramycin, and 2% amphotericin B), applied to the buccal …
