Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) may increase the risk of nosocomial pneumonia caused by profound irreversible gastric acid suppression. The study purpose was to characterize differences in nosocomial pneumonia and related infections in trauma patients administered either histamine2-receptor antagonists (H2RA) or PPI.
Methods: Observational evaluation of consecutive critically ill adult trauma patients administered either omeprazole or famotidine during a 22-month period. Nosocomial infection was evaluated daily based on published CDC definitions.
Results: Eighty of 269 patients fulfilled study criteria. The PPI group (n = 40) exhibited increased baseline risk for infection, demonstrated by higher ISS (p = 0.020), more chest tube placements (p = 0.031), and increased chest trauma (p = 0.025). Overall number of patients infected per group included 33% and 40% of patients administered PPI and H2RA, respectively (p = 0.64). Despite baseline differences, the incidence of nosocomial infection was similar (p = 0.87), and extrapolation of pneumonia based on 1000 patient days revealed a ratio 51.7 vs 52.2 in the PPI vs H2RA groups, respectively, which was not significant (p = 0.99).
Conclusions: Proton pump inhibitor administration does not increase risk of nosocomial pneumonia or other nosocomial infections compared with H2RA therapy in the critically ill trauma patient.