American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a common complication of mechanical ventilation. Backrest position and time spent supine are critical risk factors for aspiration, increasing the risk for pneumonia. Empirical evidence of the effect of backrest positions on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, especially during mechanical ventilation over time, is limited. ⋯ Subjects spent the majority of the time at backrest elevations less than 30 degrees . Only the combination of early, low backrest elevation and severity of illness affected the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.