Attributable morbidity and mortality of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients of respiratory failure

 

Gajanan Vaijnath Halkanche¹, Neelima Deshpande^2*

 

¹Associate Professor, ²Professor and HOD, Department of Medicine, Government Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra, INDIA.

Email: gajananhalkanche@rediffmail.com

 

Abstract              Background: Patients who are intubated and on mechanical ventilation are more prone to develop ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). Comorbidities and other risk factors contribute to the mortality due to VAP in mechanically ventilated patients. Aim: To assess the attributable morbidity and mortality of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients of respiratory failure. Material and Methods: A total of 216 critically ill patients admitted in intensive respiratory care unit and who stayed for at least 2 days and received mechanical ventilation within 48 hours after ICU admission were studied. Laboratory investigations and microbiological culture was done. Results: Out of 182 patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation, 47 (25.8%) patients developed ventilator associated pneumonia. Early-onset VAP were developed in 13 (27.6%) patients and late-onset VAP developed in 34 (72.3%) patients. The mortality in patients those developed VAP was 40.4%. Conclusion: Every effort should be taken to decrease the incidence of VAP in ICUs. Clinicians must focus on modifiable risk factors to minimize the incidence of VAP.

Key Words: Respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation, ventilator associated pneumonia, mortality.