SHORT-DURATION VERSUS LONG-DURATION ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY FOR HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS

Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among ICU patients. Standard care often involves prolonged antibiotic courses, risking adverse effects and antimicrobial resistance. Recent studies suggest shorter courses may be equally efficacious but specifically tailored evidence for ICU patients is limited. We conducted a unicentric, retrospective observational study analyzing the outcomes of 400 ICU patients with HCAP treated with 7-day or 14-day antibiotic therapy at the Surgical Intensive Care Unit P17, Ibn Rochd University Hospital between January 2023 and February 2025. The primary endpoint was clinical cure at day 14; secondary endpoints included development of resistant organisms, ICU length of stay (LOS), mortality, and adverse events. Our findings demonstrated non-inferiority of the short-course regimen, with comparable cure rates and improved safety profiles. The short course was associated with significantly fewer resistant organisms and adverse effects, suggesting a paradigm shift in ICU pneumonia management. These results support updates in antibiotic stewardship policies, emphasizing personalized, shorter treatment durations.