[Study of clean versus aseptic technique of tracheotomy care based on the level of pulmonary infection].

The purpose of this research study was to determine whether the clean technique of tracheotomy care is the same, or more, secure from the aseptic, by testing the difference in the level of postoperative pulmonary infection between tracheotomized patients receiving aseptic and those receiving clean tracheotomy care. The sample consisted of 103 patients with tracheotomy (transient or permanent) from ENT or IC units of four big hospitals of Athens. The level of the patient's pulmonary infection was defined using the Weighted Level of Pulmonary Infection Tool, which was constructed especially for this research study. The data were analysed using the x2 statistical test, and the coefficients phi, Cramer's V and Kendall's, while, with the same statistics, the relationship between certain important external variables and the dependent variable was examined. The findings indicated that no statistically significant difference exists between clean and aseptic technique as to the level of pulmonary infection when used for tracheotomy postoperative care of tracheotomized patients.