Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common and serious infection in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in intensive care units. Current diagnostic methods are imprecise, leading to unnecessary antibiotic use and delayed treatment. The ClusterVAP study aims to identify biologically and clinically distinct subgroups of patients with suspected VAP by analyzing proteins in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid using advanced proteomic techniques. This multicentre observational study will enroll approximately 400 adult patients from intensive care units in Sweden, France, Portugal, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. BAL or mini-BAL samples collected for clinical reasons will be analyzed to define "pneumoclusters" and explore their association with patient outcomes. The study will also identify candidate biomarkers that could support future diagnostic tools. No experimental treatments are given; all patients receive standard care. Results may improve diagnostic accuracy and guide personalized treatment strategies for critically ill patients.

Quality of care is crucial for preventing adverse events such as infection in the intensive care units (ICUs). The most common ICU-acquired infections include pneumonia such as Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP), Pressure Ulcer (PU), Medical Device Related Pressure Ulcer (MDRPU), and Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI). VAP, PU, and MDRPU are significant indicators of the quality of care, while CLABSI is a critical marker of healthcare quality in ICUs, as it is largely preventable through strict adherence to infection control protocols. VAP is a lung infection that occurs in patients receiving mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. A PU is defined as localized damage to the skin or underlying tissue caused solely by pressure, while MDRPUs may also result from friction or pressure from medical devices or other objects. CLABSI is a severe infection caused by improperly inserted or maintained central venous catheters, which underscores the need for stringent catheter management protocols.

Hypothesis: Nosten® device is able to reduce the time of underinflated balloon and removes excess pressure. This device may thus reduce the risk of ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) and early tracheal lesions resulting from intubation with decreased discomfort, morbidity, and nursing workload. The main objective of the investigators is to show that Nosten® device is more effective than monitoring and manual inflation of the balloon of the tracheal tube to prevent VAP occurrence.