Authors : Vamsi Chakradhar Kapaganty, Rajeswari Pilli
DOI : 10.18231/2394-5478.2018.0053
Volume : 5
Issue : 2
Year : 0
Page No : 252-257
Introduction: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is defined as pneumonia occurring more than 48 hours after the initiation of endotracheal intubation and it is the most common nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit (ICU). VAP is one of the important nosocomial infection that is the cause of significant morbidity and mortality among patients on mechanical ventilation.
Aim of the study: This prospective study was undertaken with an objective to determine the common etiological agents and their antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of VAP in our institute.
Results: Among the 134 mechanically ventilated patients and 56 of them developed VAP. Among the causative agents, Pseudomonas and Escherichia coli were most common among gram negatives and Staphylococcus aureus was common among the gram-positive isolates. Eighteen of the 56 isolates (32%) were polymicrobial. Thirty-eight isolates from VAP patients were multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens.
Conclusion:High incidence of VAP and the potential MDR pathogens are a real threat in our ICUs. Combined approach of judicious antibiotic usage and training programs to health care personnel might be of help in combatting high incidence of antibiotic resistance in our institute.
Keywords: Endotracheal aspirate, Intensive care units, Multi-drug resistant pathogens, Pseudomonas, Ventilator-associated pneumonia