Incidence and Outcome of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in ICU of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Ventilator associated pneumonia is an important intensive care unit acquired infection in mechanically ventilated patients. Early and correct diagnosis of Ventilator associated pneumonia is difficult but is an urgent challenge for an optimal antibiotic treatment.

METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. Consecutive patients were considered during the study period, who met the criteria were included for the study. Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score was used to diagnose Ventilator associated pneumonia.

RESULTS: Among 60 patients ventilated for more than 48 hours, 25 (41.6%) developed ventilator associated pneumonia. The incidence was 25 VAPs per 100 ventilated patients or 26 VAPs per 1000 ventilator days during the period of study. Days on ventilator and duration in ICU were higher in the VAP group. There was a trend towards increasing mortality in the VAP group (P value=0.06).

CONCLUSIONS: There exists a high rate of VAP in our Intensive Care Unit. Targeted strategies aimed at reducing Ventilator associated pneumonia should be implemented to improve patient outcome and reduce length of Intensive Care Unit stay and costs.