Evaluation of Microorganisms Causing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify microorganisms causing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and also study the antibiotic resistance/susceptibility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively assessed microorganisms isolated from patients diagnosed with VAP in a pediatric intensive care unit between January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2016.

RESULTS

We included 44 patients diagnosed with VAP. The prevalence thereof was 8.6 patients per 1,000 ventilator days. Mechanical ventilation was required for 56.5% of patients. Thirty-three patients (75%) died. An underlying chronic disease was detected in 75% of patients (n=33). Fifty microorganisms were isolated from 44 patients. Single microorganisms were isolated from 86.4% (n=38) and two from 13.6% (n=6) of patients. Of all the isolated bacteria, 96% (n=48) were gram-negative; the most common was (32%), followed by (24%) and (22%). The isolates were most susceptible to colistin (92.6%), followed by piperacillin-tazobactam (71.4%), amikacin (65.2%), and gentamicin (52.2%). No enterobacterium or strain was resistant to colistin; however, 13% of isolates were resistant.

CONCLUSION

In VAP, it is essential to catalog antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria present in the unit to ensure that empirical antibiotic therapy is effective.