Mechanical ventilation with heated humidifiers or with heat and moisture exchangers with microbiological filters did not reduce ventilator associated pneumonia in adults
Q Does the method of airway humidification (heat and moisture exchangers with microbiological filters [HMEFs] or heated humidifiers [HHs]) affect the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in adults?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (microbiologists confirming VAP).
Follow up period:
up to 28 days of mechanical ventilation.
Setting:
5 intensive care units (ICUs) in 2 university affiliated teaching hospitals in France.
Patients:
370 patients >18 years of age (mean age 55 y, 70% men) who required mechanical ventilation (eg, nasotracheal, orotracheal, or tracheostomy tube) for >48 hours. Exclusion criteria were previous ventilation for >24 hours, contraindications to HHs (eg, active tuberculosis) or to HMEFs (eg, haemoptysis or severe hypothermia), admission after cardiac arrest, enrolment in other clinical trials, or early decision to limit …
