INCIDENCE OF VENTILATOR-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA AND THEIR SOCIO- DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE AMONG CHILDREN ADMITTED IN NEONATAL AND PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNITS IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER OF NORTH INDIA.

Abstract

Introduction: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) continues to pose serious complications in patients in patients who are on mechanical ventilators especially for neonates. The present study has been conducted to evaluate the Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia as well as the socio- demographic prole of children admitted to the Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in IGMC Shimla. Material & Methods: This prospective observational study has been conducted for a tenure of 365 days (1st July 2015 till June 2016), in the intensive care units (NICU and PICU) of the Department of Pediatrics, IGMC, Shimla. All patients admitted to PICU and NICU, who required mechanical ventilator support for 48 hours or more were included in the study. Center of disease control and prevention criteria has been taken to diagnose VAP. Results: Out of 1750 children (0-18 years) who were admitted in NICU and PICU of children ward of IGMC, Shimla in the study period, 85 required ventilatory support. Out of these 85 cases, only 10 fullled the diagnostic criteria. So the incidence of VAP observed was 11.7 %. Incidence of VAP in Newborns was found to be signicantly high (23.3%) compared to (3.2%) infants between 1 Month to 1 year of age (p = 0.020). Among diagnosed cases majority were males, with a male: female ratio of 3:2, however, the gender difference was statistically not signicant. Conclusion: The results of this present study point that hospital stay duration and mechanical ventilation of children (neonates, infants, and children 1 to18 yrs) admitted in Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care unit because these factors have a critical association with Ventilator- Associated Pneumonia and its complications. It clearly emphasizes that proper selection of antibiotics targeted on predominant bacteria present in a clinical setting, information based on examination of pulmonary secretions is crucial to minimize the hospital stay and thereby decrease morbidity and mortality.