Intubated ICU Patients

study arm

One tracheal sample will be obtained using sterile (5 ml) sterile saline solution using irrigation and wall suction from each patient every day for 72 hours, total sampling time is approximately 10 seconds per specimen. Lung samples or fiberoptic obtained samples will be collected at same time intervals as the tracheal samples when possible and if they are done as standard of care. Samples will not be collected for research only and the time for this procedure will not be extended to collect extra tissue. A blood sample (10ml) will be collected simultaneously with the airway samples and also will be used for baseline control measurements.

Neutrophil changes

Identifying indicators of neutrophil inflammatory changes that occur during 72 hours of tracheal injury secondary to endotracheal intubation.

analyze neutrophil activation

Analyze neutrophil activation in the distal airways in biological samples obtained simultaneously with tracheal samples and to correlate them with the development of lung inflammation.

correlate tracheal and lung neutrophil activation

Correlate tracheal and lung neutrophil activation with development of pneumonia in ICU patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

determine the impact of airway (tracheal, lung) inflammation

Determine the impact of airway (tracheal, lung) inflammation as determined by neutrophil activation on the length of stay (LOS), discharge, and readmission to ICU in the first 90 days post airway inflammation (VAP) diagnosis.