Background: Molecular tests as BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (FA-PNEU) provide more rapid and sensitive results, hastening the appropriate antimicrobial treatment (AAT) choice.  

Aim: To evaluate the impact of AAT guided by FA-PNEU on the systemic inflammatory response in patients with ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTI).

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of ICU patients with a clinical diagnosis of VA-LRTI. We collected and processed by the FA-PNEU, invasive respiratory samples at the time of diagnosis (Day 1) as well as serum samples to determine the levels of systemic cytokines (from Day 1 to Day 3) by bead-based multiplex assays. We analyzed the changes in cytokines? levels in response to antimicrobial treatment adjusted after FA-PNEU results were available.

Results: Thirty-two patients were enrolled in the study. When the FA-PNEU results were available, clinicians adjusted the treatment or did not based on their adherence. According to those, the treatment was AAT at 23 (72%) cases. Greater downregulation of IL-6 and IL-10 at day 3 was detected in patients receiving AAT in comparison to those with inappropriate treatment (Fig. 1).

Conclusions: Early AAT guided by FA-PNEU may lessen systemic inflammatory response in VA-LRTI patients