Annals of internal medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Prevention of infection in critically ill patients by selective decontamination of the digestive tract.
To determine whether selective decontamination of the digestive tract using oral and nonabsorbable antimicrobial agents and parenteral cefotaxime prevents infection in critically ill patients. ⋯ Selective decontamination of the digestive tract decreases subsequent infection rates, especially by gram-negative bacilli, in selected patients during long-term stays in the intensive care unit.