Causes of ventilator associated pneumonia in pediatrics ICU

Hospital acquired infections are associated with prolonged hospitalization and visibly increased mortality & cost. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections VAP complicates the course of 9-70% % of mechanically ventilated patients and mortality varies greatly from 20-25% depending on the defining criteria and specific population being studied. As little is known about the epidemiology, risk factors, and microbiology of VAP in pediatrics we conducted this study to find most common micro-organisms and related risk factors.
We select 1-15 months intubated pediatric patients in Ali- Asghar children hospital in Tehran from 1388 up to end of 1389. 63 cases (36 male & 27 female) were included in this study with mean age 22.32±37.84 months. We identified 26 cases with VAP by positive protected bronchial brush. There was no differences between two groups of patients with & without VAP by considering variables such as nasogastric tube, head position, antacid administration, immunosuppressant drugs & chest physiotherapy.
The most common organisms, were Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus & Enterobacter. However, there was no differences between two groups related to the etiologic agents.
The findings of this study suggest that most of the complications defined as VAP are patient-related, not modifiable risk factors and it seems that the new prevention strategies are needed to decrease the mortality in intensive care unit patients.