Stress related mucosal disease is a frequent complication of critical illness. To prevent gastrointestinal bleeding due to stress related mucosal disease, proton pump inhibitors or histamine 2 receptor antagonists with stress ulcer prophylaxis is often routinely performed in critical patients in the intensive care unit. Whereas; recent studies have shown that stress ulcer prophylaxis is associated with increased risk of infection, especially Clostridium difficile infection and nasocomial pneumonia. Therefore, the risk benefit ratio must be considered before stress ulcer prohylaxis is performed.

Keywords: Stress ulcer prophylaxis, intensive care unit, proton pump inhibitors