Medical Research wins international recognition
Dr. Regev Cohen, who headed the research team, recently conducted a study at Laniado Hospital that revealed that proper care of a ventilator can lower the risk of infection from antibiotic-resistant bacteria (acinetobacter baumannii pictured above). The bacterium is one of the world's leading causes of pneumonia among patients who require breathing assistance through a ventilator.
The frequency of replacing the ventilator tube, the cleanliness of the internal filters and sterilization are procedures that are determined by the manufacturer of the ventilator and according to guidelines set by international bodies. However, at Laniado, it was decided to examine the effect of more frequent maintenance of the various machine parts that are at greater risk of becoming infected with the acinetobacter baumannii bacterium.
The study was conducted over a period of 15 months among 321 ventilated patients and showed that in the period following the intervention, there was a drop of over 50% in the risk of infection from the dangerous bacteria. Dr. Regev Cohen, a specialist in infectious diseases said “The world of modern medicine has performed medical wonders through the use of advanced technology. Careless use of these machines can be seen to increase the risk of infection"
The research proposed reconsidering the manufacturer's instructions and the accepted guidelines. In addition to reducing the risk of infection in ventilated patients, it also entails a financial savings for the hospital, since the prevention of pneumonia decrease the need for costly antibiotics. Even after calculating the expense of treatment with a ventilator, there was still a savings of about $30,000 per year on antibiotics for pneumonia.
The research, which won international recognition and will soon be published in the American Journal of Infection Control.