Infection of the respiratory tract is the second most prevalent nosocomial infection, more frequently observed in patients submitted to mechanical ventilation. The use of hygroscopic humidifier filters has been proclaimed to reduce contamination of the ventilatory circuits. The objective of this study is to evaluate if the use of hygroscopic filters can reduce the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia when comparing to the use of traditional humidifiers. The design of this study was a randomized clinical trial, carried out at the intensive care unit of the Hospital Santa Cruz, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from September 1999 to July 2000. Forty-three patients included in this study were divided into two groups: 23 who used a hygroscopic humidifier filter and 20 using a traditional humidifier. The pneumonia diagnosis was performed according to clinical-radiological criteria. In the group using hygroscopic filter, eight patients with pneumonia diagnosis were observed and in the traditional humidifier, five patients with pneumonia were found. The relative risk for development nosocomial pneumonia was 1.39 (p = 0.48). Use of sedation and nasoenteral catheter was significant for the appearance of pneumonia. No difference in the incidence of pneumonia associated to mechanical ventilation was observed as comparing the use of hygroscopic humidifier with a traditional humidifier.

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