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Effect of taurine supplementation on preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia in pediatrics under mechanical ventilation, a randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial

Nasrin Shirzad-Yazdi, E. Shorafa, Seyedeh Narjes Abootalebi, Reza Heidari, Katayoon Hojabri, Marziyeh Doostfatemeh, F. Masjedi, A. Vazin et al.

Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2025

1 citation

Abstract

Introduction One of the most prevalent healthcare-associated infections in the pediatric intensive care unit is ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). VAP not only results in prolonged hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stays but also imposes higher costs on patients and the healthcare system. Therefore, it is essential to implement preventive measures. The lung-protective properties of taurine are recognized, and this research focuses on assessing the impact of taurine supplementation in preventing VAP. Method This double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted at Namazi Hospital's PICUs. The study included pediatrics on mechanical ventilation for over 48 h. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: the taurine and placebo groups. Alongside the standard care, participants from both groups were administered taurine or placebo capsules (30 mg/kg. day) in divided doses from the day of PICU admission through PICU discharge. The incidence of VAP through clinical and laboratory evidence was considered the primary outcome. Results Seventy-seven patients were included in the study, with 38 in the taurine group and 39 in the placebo group. VAP incidence was 7.9% in the taurine group and 64.1% in the placebo group. Taurine significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital stay, and inotrope duration. The occurrence of septic shock was lower in the taurine group at 5.3%. Stepwise logistic regression showed that placebo receipt was the only…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.

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