Effect of traditional Chinese preparation Xuebijing on inflammatory markers in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia

Abstract

Objective: To observe the effect of Xuebijing, a complex traditional Chinese preparation, on inflammation and prognosis of patients with pneumonia. Methods: The patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit (ICU) were randomly divided into the control group and the treatment group with 35 cases in each group. Both groups were given routine treatment such as anti-inflammatory drugs, rehydration, expectorant, and nutritional support, while the treatment group was additionally given Xuebijing injection. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), acute physiology, and chronic health score II (APACHE II) were recorded before treatment, the 3rd and 7th day after treatment. The duration of antibiotic use, mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, and mortality during 28 days was recorded. Results: There was no significant difference in CRP, CPIS, and APACHE II between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). The improvement of CRP, CPIS, and APACHE II in the treatment group was better than those in the control group on the 3 and 7 days after treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P0.05). Conclusions: Xuebijing injection can improve the inflammatory indexes of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia, and can partly improve the prognosis.

Keywords

• xuebijing injection; ventilator-associated pneumonia; c-reactive protein; clinical pulmonary infection score; apacheii