The frequency of clinically suspected nosocomial pneumonia was lower in the semirecumbent group than in the supine group. This was also true for microbiologically confirmed pneumonia.

Supine body position were independent risk factors for nosocomial pneumonia and the frequency was highest for patients receiving enteral nutrition in the supine body position.

Mechanical ventilation for 7 days or more and a Glasgow coma scale score of less than 9 were additional risk factors.

This trial was stopped after the planned interim analysis.

86 intubated and mechanically ventilated patients of one medical and one respiratory intensive-care unit at a tertiary-care university hospital were randomly assigned to semirecumbent (n=39) or supine (n=47) body position.

Read More