RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

In 2008 the Board of Trustees of the Rafael del Pino Foundation decided to contribute to research and to the advanced training of specialists in the field of oncology. This decision is intended to reinforce the Founder’s initiative of intensifying the Foundation’s activities that are directed at promoting research in the field of health, in particular those aimed at improving the quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries.

Incidence, rapid diagnosis and therapeutic anticipation of pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation in adults

The Rafael del Pino Foundation and the Foundation for Biomedical Research of Madrid’s Gregorio Marañón Hospital signed a collaboration agreement on 25 January 2007 to fund research into the incidence, rapid diagnosis and therapeutic anticipation of pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation (VAP) in adults.

VAP is one of the main infectious complications diagnosed in patients in intensive care and constitutes one of the main causes of hospital infection and of death due to infection while in hospital. This complication has traditionally been associated with a high level of morbidity and mortality, which is why in recent years numerous studies have been carried out to learn more about its epidemiology, physiopathogeny, aetiology and factors of prognosis, and also to evaluate different prophylactic measures and/or therapeutic strategies. The essential factor in combating it is to establish preventive measures and strategies for rapid diagnosis and precise treatment.

In 2008, a protocol on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the pneumonia was produced with the aim of being able to monitor more closely the results of the different methods used. The resulting new procedure makes it possible to shorten to 18-24 hours the time it takes to obtain preliminary information on the pathogens causing VAP and the related antibiogram.

A study was also conducted of the value of a broad spectrum empirical anticipatory treatment for patients at high risk of VAP (patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours). The research results show that patients who receive antimicrobial treatments for three days running significantly reduce the risk of developing VAP in the 10-day postoperative period.

An assessment was also made of the efficacy of having an observation team to periodically give instructions and alerts on implementing the preventive measures recommended by the American Thoracic Society and the Center for Disease Control. Similarly, the value was assessed of continuous subglottic suctioning of secretions in the prevention of VAP after major heart surgery and an illuminated tracheal tube was designed for this purpose. The results of this latest research will be published by the prestigious Chest journal.

The research is being led by Dr. Emilio Bouza Santiago, Professor of Medical Microbiology, Head of the Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department at the Gregorio Marañón Teaching Hospital in Madrid, and the research team is made up of anaesthetists, radiologists, intensive care physicians, pulmonologists, specialists in infectious diseases and microbiology and intensive care nurses.