Effect of Trachyspermum ammi Syrup on the Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a dangerous nosocomial infection. Due to the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the increase in antibiotic resistance, many researchers have focused on the antimicrobial effects of plants and their extracts. This clinical trial examined the effect of Trachyspermum ammi (T. ammi) syrup on VAP. In this study, the intervention group patients (49 people) received 10 ml of T. ammi syrup 10% three times a day from the first 24 hours of gavage for 10 days. Patients in the placebo group (n=49) received placebo syrup in the same way. Finally, VAP was measured on day 10 based on the Modified Clinical Criteria for the Pulmonary Infections checklist. The results revealed that 10 (20.4%) patients in the T. ammi group and 15 (30.6%) patients in the placebo group developed VAP. The odds of developing VAP in the placebo group was 72% higher than in the T. ammi group; but this ratio was not statistically significant (odds ratio =1.72, P = 0.24). It is suggested that future studies should examine the effect of different doses of T. ammi and other herbal medications on developing VAP.