Ventilator-associated-pneumonia (VAP) is characterized by morbidity, mortality, and prolonged length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU).
The present study aimed to examine the effect of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) in preventing VAP in patients hospitalized in ICU.
NAC (600 mg/twice daily)… [was] administered to NAC group…
Patients treated with NAC were significantly less likely to develop clinically confirmed VAP…
Patients treated with NAC had significantly less ICU length of stay… and less hospital stay…
Time to VAP was significantly longer in the NAC group.
The incidence of complete recovery was significantly higher in the NAC group.
No adverse events related to NAC were identified.
Ventilator-associated-pneumonia (VAP) is a complication developed in about 30% of mechanically ventilated patients.1-4 Patients with VAP have higher morbidity and mortality rates, and faced with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital lengths of stay…
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is a mucolytic drug with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulating properties.
[I]t appears that NAC can be effective in preventing VAP as a non-antibiotic strategy.
The effectiveness of NAC has been shown in patients with some lung diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), influenza specially influenza A (H5N1), cystic fibrosis and smoking-related damage.