A STUDY ON THE INCIDENCE OF VENTILATOR ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA IN THE ICU OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is dened as pneumonia that occurs 48 h or more after endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy, caused by infectious agents not present or incubating at the time mechanical ventilation was started. VAP increases the length of ICU stay of a patient by around 28% and doubles the risk of mortality as compared with patients without VAP. The aim of the present study is to nd the incidence of VAP in ICU patients and the association of the causative organism. Out of 1429 patients on mechanical ventilation, 107(7.48%) fullled the criteria for VAP, out of which 45 were of early onset and 62 were of late onset VAP. The causative organisms were predominantly gram negative bacilli like Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter and few Gram positive cocci like Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus. VAP is a signicant problem as it leads to prolonged hospitalization and its implicated nancial burden. Prevention strategies and proper bundle care helps in mitigating these problems.