Table 1.

Study protocol

Study period	Oral hygiene	Oral paste†	Suspension¥	Cefotaxim*
SDD	+	+	+	+
SOD	+	+
Standard care	+

SDD, selective decontamination of the digestive tract; SOD, selective oropharyngeal decontamination.

+ applied four times a day.

^† Oral paste consists of polymyxin, tobramycin, amphotericin B and is applied in the oropharynx.

^¥ Suspension consists of polymyxin, tobramycin, amphotericin B and is applied in the gastrointestinal tract through a feeding tube.

*Cefotaxim applied intravenous during first four days.