Résumé
Ventilator-associated pneumonia [VAP] is the most common nosocomial infection acquired by patients in the intensive care unit [ICU]. However, the economic effects of such infections remain unclear particularly in developing countries. Patients who were mechanically ventilated for more than 48 h in the ICU were studied for the occurrence of VAP. Total drug costs and hospital costs were noted, and attributable costs were calculated after adjusting for potential confounders. Ninety-five [38%] patients who were ventilated for more than 48 h developed VAP, which resulted in an incidence of 40.1 VAP infections/1000 mechanical ventilation days. The patients with VAP experienced significantly longer hospital stay [21 [IQ = 14-33] days versus 11 [IQ = 6-18] days, P < 0.0001]] and incurred greater hospital costs [USD $6250.92 [IQ = 3525.39-9667.57] versus $2598.84 [IQ = 1644.33-4477.65], P < 0.0001]. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the cost-driving factors in our study population were the occurrence of VAP infections [P < 0.0001] and the duration of hospital stay [P < 0.0001]. The attributable cost of VAP infection was calculated to be USD $5200 [95% CI = 3245-7152]. We conclude that VAP significantly increases the costs of treatment in low-income developing countries. This study highlights the need to implement urgent measures to reduce the incidence of this disease in ICUs