Will nursing ICU patients in semi-recumbent positions reduce rates of nosocomial infection?

Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the main cause of ICU-acquired infection. Infection significantly increases mortality, length of ICU stay and costs (both financial and humanitarian). Ventilator-associated pneumonia is usually caused by aspiration. Ventilator-associated pneumonia risks are highest among patients who are fed through a nasogastric/orogastric tube. A semi-recumbent position reduces the risk of aspiration, so should reduce the risk of acquiring ventilator-associated pneumonia.