Study of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction: Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the most prevalent nosocomial infection and the primary cause of morbidity and death for pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients. Even though aseptic methods, antimicrobial treatment, supportive care, and preventative measures including the VAP bundle, early feeding and cuffed endotracheal tubes, mortality due to VAP as an independent cause is still very high. The study is to determine the microorganisms responsible, risk factors, incidence, and mortality of VAP was the study’s main objective. Methods: This was a prospective and cross-sectional study. The patient information was recorded on a verified predesigned pro forma. Duration of hospital stay, ventilator days, intubation, mortality, tracheostomy, and organisms were isolated from minibroncoalveolar lavage noted. After 48 h of mechanical ventilator was observed for any sign and symptoms of VAP. We defined the VAP as per the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score for suspecting VAP and confirm the diagnosis culture and chest X-ray. Results: Among the 95 ventilated children, seven (7.36%) were found to have VAP. Acinetobacter Baumannii (4.2%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (2.1%) were the most prevalent Gram-negative bacteria grown. Ventilation days ( P = 0.026), PICU stay ( P = 0.041), and reintubation ( P = 0.05) were the major risk factors for the VAP. Mortality was 14.3% in children with VAP and non VAP 26.2% ( P = 0.719). Conclusions: Compared to other Indian centers, this study’s VAP incidence was lower. Three major risk factors for the VAP were length of stay in the PICU, number of ventilation days, and intubation. According to this analysis, there was no significant relation between VAP and mortality.