ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of risk factors for Ventilator Associated Pneumonia [VAP] in a pediatric population
Setting and Study Design: It was a cross sectional survey conducted at the Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, [NICU and PICU], Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from 31-10-2009 till 2010
Methods: 175 cases of VAP were enrolled by non-probability, purposive sampling technique Patients from birth to 12 years [144 months], admitted in NICU and PICU, who received mechanical ventilation for >48 hours, were analyzed retrospectively for the presence of risk factors such as reintubation, nosogastric tube feeding and thoracostomy tube and eventual development of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
Results: Out of total 175 patients, 55.3% were < 1 month [neonates] admitted in NICU while 44.7% were between 1 month and 12 years [144 months] and admitted in PICU. Mean +/- S.D age for NICU and PICU patients was 3.76 +/- 1.10 days and 39.88 +/- 33.78 months respectively. In both NICU [male 53.2% Vs female 46.8%] and PICU [71.1% males Vs 28.96% female], there was male predominance. Regarding frequency of risk factors, in both NICU and PICU, reintubation was the most frequent risk factor [85.1% NICU, 73.1% PICU] followed by nasogastric tube feeding [17% NICU, 36.8% PICU] and tube thoracostomy [6.4% NICU, 10.5% PICU]
Conclusions: VAP is a common infection associated with process of patient care and certain interventions [such as reintubation, nasogastric tube placement and tube thoracostomy] might affect the incidence of VAP. ICU clinicians should be aware of the risk factors for VAP, which could prove useful in identifying patients at high risk of VAP and thus modifying patient's care to minimize the risk of VAP