Independent risk factors associated with hospital-acquired pneumonia in an adult ICU: 4-year prospective cohort study in a university reference hospital

Although severity of illness upon admission (APACHE II index) and decreased level of consciousness were relevant predisposing factors to contract HP in the ICU, the strongest association corresponded to extrinsic factors such as mechanical ventilation and use of a nasogastric tube. The fact that these are therapeutic interventions facilitates developing prevention and control measures that can contribute to reduce the risk for HP.