Conclusions
SDD in ventilated ICU patients continues to be a controversial issue. This form of prophylaxis significantly reduces infection-related morbidity in ICU patients, but, despite the large number of trials assessed, no definite conclusions can be drawn about the effect of this type of prophylaxis on mortality.
There is evidence to support the use of SDD in some patient populations, including ventilated polytrauma patients, patients who have undergone surgery for oesophageal tumours and liver transplant patients. The use of SDD in patients receiving long-term ventilation, must, however, be questioned.
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Lode, H., Schaberg, T. & Stahlmann, R. Selective decontamination of the digestive tract: Indications and problems. Infection 23, 129–132 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01793851
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01793851