Investigació Aplicada en Malalties Respiratòries

To study the etiology and pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP)
To identify biomarkers for diagnosis and outcome of VAP
To study the formation of biofilm in intubated and mechanically ventilated patients

Microbiological and electron microscope study of biofilm in endotracheal tubes
Efficacy of corticosteroids in patients with VAP
Role of interleukins in diagnosis and outcome of VAP
Pneumonia in the intensive care unit (ICU), associated and not associated with mechanical ventilation

The half-sitting position in bed in ventilated patients reduces the incidence of VAP
Procalcitonin (PCT) is an effective marker for confirming diagnosis of VAP
Automatic control of tracheal tube pressure does not affect the incidence of VAP

Identification of new VAP biomarkers
Evaluation of new VAP therapies
Evaluation of measures to prevent the formation of biofilm in endotracheal tubes
Clinical monitoring of patients with VAP in order to adapt empirical treatment to the changes in the etiologic agents

Sequential measurements of procalcitonin in diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia
Ramirez P, Garcia MA, Ferrer M, Aznar J, Valencia M, Sauquillo JM, Menendez R, Asenjo MA, Torres A.
Eur Respir J 2008;31:356-362
Automatic control of tracheal tube cuff pressure in ventilated patients in semirecumbent position. A randomized trial
Valencia M, Ferrer M, Farre R, Navajas D, Badia JR, Nicolas JM, Torres A
Crit Care Med 2007: 35: 1543-1549. (text a continuació en idiomes!)
Supine body position is a risk factor of nosocomial pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients. A randomised clinical trial
Drakulovic MB, Torres A, Bauer TT, Nicolás JM, Nogué S, Ferrer M
The Lancet 1999; 354: 1851-1858