Microbial Profile of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in a Medical Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangalore.

ABSTRACT

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is an important infection most often encountered in mechanical ventilation (MV) patients in intensive care units in hospital. VAP occurs in approximately 9 - 27% of patients who are intubated. The morbidity and mortality associated with VAP is more inspite of recent advances in diagnosis and accurate management. Emergence of multidrug resistance among the pathogens causing VAP is also contributing to the outcome. We wanted to isolate the bacterial pathogens, study the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates and detect the presence of drug resistance in various pathogens.METHODSThis is a retrospective, cross sectional study done on samples received between 2016 to 2018 among patients on MV for >/= 48 hours. Endotracheal aspirates were collected from 85 patients with assumed VAP, clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) was noted and aerobic quantitative cultures were performed on all samples. VAP was diagnosed by count of pathogenic organisms isolated >/= 105 cfu/mL. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates were done as per the standard laboratory procedures. Patients with characteristic features i.e. clinical and radiological signs of pneumonia on admission were excluded from the study.RESULTS50 cases were diagnosed as VAP by CPIS. Gender ratio was 3020 (male to female) higher incidence 42% of VAP was seen in the age group of 46-60 years. Majority were Gram negative bacilli; 96%- Klebsiella 36%, Acinetobacter 26% E. coli 16%, Pseudomonas 14%, and Citrobacter 4% along with coagulase positive Staphylococcus in 4%. Of the 50 VAP patients, single organism was isolated in 92% and polymicrobial in 8%. Most of the isolates showed resistance to Amoxiclav, Cefepime, Cefixime and Meropenem.CONCLUSIONSGood compliance with VAP bundle adopted in critical care areas by the health care workers will reduce the incidence of VAP. Early and accurate diagnosis, appropriate empirical and specific antimicrobial use may significantly improve patient outcome.