-
Tuesday, 10/19/2010
An extensive educational program for nursing staff on procedures for the Gravity VAP Trial commences at the Hospital Clinic
The Gravity-VAP trial is a prospective multicenter randomized trial aimed at comparing the semi-recumbent position vs. lateral-Trendelenburg position, as preventive strategies for ventilator associated pneumonia
The ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the leading cause of mortality among nosocomial infections acquired in the ICU. The Gravity-VAP Trial is an international clinical trial designed to investigate potentials of a new body positioning on VAP prevention. The lateral-Trendelenburg position, potentially improves mucus clearance and could prevent the primary pathogenic mechanism for the development of VAP, i.e. pulmonary aspiration across the tracheal tube cuff of bacteria-laden oropharyngeal contents. "This study is aimed at drastically reducing lung infections acquired during artificial airway intubation with the rationale of improving the mucus clearance. I think this study is of paramount importance" says Dr. Antoni Torres. This is a prospective multicenter randomized trial to reduce the incidence of VAP that will take approximately three years and include approximately 800 patients.
Today, October 19 Dr. Gianluigi Li Bassi, with the support of Dr. Antoni Torres, head of the UVIR section, and Dr. Miquel Ferrer, Consultant, will start a nursing staff educational program to describe procedures for the Gravity-VAP trial. The program will last three days and the key aspects on patient’s positioning will be reviewed in detail. "The positioning and mobilization of critically ill patients is considered one of the most important tasks to reduce infections in daily nursing practice in an ICU" says Dr. Li Bassi. As confirmed by Prof. Antoni Torres, the educational program will be later extent to other ICUs within the hospital.
This study was designed by the Gravity-VAP Network. The network was initiated in 2009 to carry out multi center clinical trials to test new strategies to prevent VAP. Currently, the Gravity-VAP Network comprises 4 centers around the world: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain; Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA, USA; Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena Milan, Italy and Ospedale San Gerardo Monza, Italy. Importantly, the rationale behind the Gravity-VAP trial is based on laboratory studies conducted at the animal experimentation division of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.