ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To investigate nosocomial pulmonary infection in elderly patients receiving long-term(at least 30 day) mechanical ventilation. METHODS Retrospective survey was carried out in the aged patients with long-term mechanical ventilation,who admitted from Jan 2002 to Jun 2005.The risk factors of common pneumonia were studied by means of Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS In 69 cases with long-term mechanical ventilation,53 patients were caught common pneumonia(76.81%).Pulmonary tuberculosis and plural tuberculosis were(7(10.14%)) and(1(1.14%)),respectively.Nontuberculous mycobacterial infection was identified in 3 cases(4.35%).There were 8 cases suffered from Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia(11.59%).The length of mechanical ventilation and aspiration seemed to be the important risk factors for the development of common bacterial pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS The most significant preventive measures of common pneumonia include short mechanical ventilation and prevention of aspiration of gastric contents.Mycobacterium tuberculosis,nontuberculous mycobacteria and P.carinii induced pneumonia also should be considered in the elderly with(long-term) mechanical ventilation.