RESUMO
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia [VAP], developing in mechanically ventilated patients after 48 hours of mechanical ventilation, is the second most common nosocomial infection. Therefore, there is a vital need to study the etiology and risk factors associated with VAP in neonates. Neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit [NICU], over a period of one year and who required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours were enrolled consecutively into the study. Semi-quantitative assay of endotracheal aspirate was used for microbiological diagnoses of VAP.105CFU/ml was taken as the cut off between evidence of pathological infection and colonization. The primary outcome measure was the development of VAP. Secondary outcome measures were length of mechanical ventilation, NICU length of stay, hospital cost, and death. Thirty eight patients were enrolled [58% were boys and 42% were girls].42% of neonates developed VAP. The most common VAP organisms identified were Acinetobacter baumanni [43%]. On multiple regression analysis, duration of mechanical ventilation was associated with VAP [P=0.00]. Patients with VAP had greater need for mechanical ventilation [18.7 vs 6 median days], longer NICU length of stay [39 vs 21.5 median days] and higher total median hospital costs [79.5 vs 52 million rials] than those without VAP. The mortality rate was not different between two groups. In mechanically ventilated neonates, those with VAP had a prolonged need for mechanical ventilation, a longer NICU stay, and a higher hospital costs. Longer mechanical ventilation was associated with an increased risk of developing VAP in these patients. Developing of VAP didn't increase mortality in patients.