Moreover, preventive measures against NP not only
rely upon the identification of those factors independently
influencing the risk of its acquisition,ı9 but also
on the implementation of effective surveillance programs
as defined by the SENIC (Study on the Efficacy
of Nosocomial Infection Control) project.6 Both a high
score of a complex intrinsic risk factor and thoracic or
upper abdominal surgery have been identified in the
SENIC project.7 Furthermore, the latter are considered
the most important predisposing factors in a
selected cohort of patients undergoing a surgical procedure.