Search

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, characteristics and outcome of critically burn patients with pulmonary HSV reactivation.Retrospective, single-center cohort study in a burn critical care unit in a tertiary center, including all consecutive severely burn patients with bronchoalveolar lavage performed for pneumoniae suspicion and screened for HSV from January 2013 and April 2017. We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with HSV reactivation and outcomes.94 patients were included, mean age was 51 (39-64) years; median total body surface area burned was 36 (25-54)% and ICU mortality 38%. Fifty-five patients (59%) had pulmonary HSV reactivation and 30 (55%) were treated with acyclovir. Patients with HSV reactivation were more severely ill with higher SOFA score at admission compared to patient without HSV reactivation (6 [3-8] vs. 2 [1-4], p0.0001 respectively). In multivariate analysis, sex, SOFA score at admission and smoke inhalation were significantly associated with HSV reactivation. Only septic shock was associated with 90-day mortality when HSV reactivation was not.Pulmonary HSV reactivation is frequent among severely ill burn patients. Initial severity and smoke inhalation are risk factors. Antiviral treatment was not associated with outcome.

Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most frequently encountered causes of hospital-acquired infection and results in high morbidity among intubated patients. Few trials have investigated the efficacy of oral care with chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash for the prevention of VAP in the paediatric population. Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of CHX mouthwash in the prevention of VAP and to determine risk factors for VAP in children aged 1 month to 18 years admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods This was a prospective, randomised, controlled, double-blind trial performed in the PICU. Patients were randomised into two groups receiving CHX (0.12%) (n = 88) or placebo (0.9% NaCl) (n = 86) and were followed up for VAP development. The main outcome measures were incidence of VAP, duration of hospital stay, duration of PICU stay, duration of ventilation, mortality, and the characteristics of organisms isolated in cases with VAP. Results: No difference was observed in the incidence of VAP and the type and distribution of organisms in the two groups (p > 0.05). In the CHX and placebo groups, we identified 21 and 22 patients with VAP, respectively. Incidence per 1000 ventilation days was 29.5 events in the CHX group and 35.1 events in the placebo group. Gram-negative bacteria were most common (71.4% in CHX vs. 54.5% in placebo). The use of 0.12% CHX did not influence hospital stay, PICU stay, ventilation, and mortality (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified duration of ventilation as the only independent risk factor for VAP (p = 0.001). Conclusion The use of 0.12% CHX did not reduce VAP frequency among critically ill children. The only factor that increased VAP frequency was longer duration on ventilation. It appears that low concentration of CHX is not effective for VAP prevention, especially in the presence of multiresistant bacteria. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04527276 .

Objectives This study assessed the efficacy and safety of novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations in adult patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Methods PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and EBSCO databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before September 13, 2020. Only RCTs comparing the treatment efficacy of novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations with other antibiotics for HAP/VAP in adult patients were included in this integrated analysis. Results Three RCTs were included, and no significant difference in clinical cure rate of the test of cure (TOC) was observed between the novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination and comparators (odds ratio [OR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.81-1.27; I2 = 35%). The 28-day all-cause mortality was 16.2% and 17.6% for patients receiving the novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination and those receiving comparators, respectively, and no significant difference was noted (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.69-1.16; I2 = 11%). Compared with the comparators, the novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination was associated with a similar microbiological response (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.73-1.54; I2 = 64%) and a similar risk of AEs (treatment-emergent AEs [TEAEs]: OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.83-1.30; I2 = 0%; serious AEs: OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.79-1.63; I2 = 68%; treatment discontinuation for TEAE: OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.62-1.31; I2 = 11%). Conclusions The clinical and microbiological responses of novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations in the treatment of HAP/VAP were similar to those of other available antibiotics. These combinations also shared a similar safety profile to that of comparators.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common complication of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. The incidence, patient characteristics, and outcomes have not been described in a regional Australian setting.Τhe primary objective was to establish the incidence of VAP in a regional intensive care unit using predetermined diagnostic criteria. The secondary objective was to compare the agreement between criteria-based and physician-based diagnostic processes. The tertiary objectives were to compare patient characteristics and clinical outcomes of cases with and without VAP.A retrospective clinical audit was performed of adult patients admitted to Rockhampton Intensive Care Unit, Australia, between 2013 and 2016. We included all patients ventilated for ≥72 h and not diagnosed with a pneumonia before or during the first 72 h of ventilation.A total of 170 cases met the inclusion criteria. The incidence of VAP as per the criteria-based diagnosis was 27.3 cases per 1000 ventilator days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.4-36.2) and as per the physician-based diagnosis was 25.8 cases per 1000 ventilator days (95% CI: 17.1-34.4). There was a moderate chance-corrected agreement between the criteria- and physician-based diagnosis. Very obese cases (body mass index [BMI] ≥40) were nearly four times more likely to develop VAP than cases with normal BMI (BMI30) (odds ratio: 3.664; 95% CI: 1.394-9.634; p = 0.008). After controlling for sex, BMI category, comorbidities, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, there was a trend (p = 0.283) for higher adjusted mortality rate for cases with VAP (10.1%, 95% CI: 4.8-21.5) than for those without VAP (6.1%, 95% CI: 3.0-12.4). Cases with VAP had a higher total hospital cost ($123,223 AUD vs $66,425 AUD, p 0.001), than cases without VAP.This is the first study reporting incidence of VAP in an Australian regional intensive care unit setting. An increased length of stay and significantly higher hospital costs warrant research investigating reliable and valid clinical prediction rules to forecast those at risk of VAP.

Background Device-associated infections (DAIs) such as ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), central line–associated blood stream infection (CLABSI), and catheter-related urinary tract infection (CAUTI) are principal contributors to health hazard and a major preventable threat to patient safety. Robust surveillance of DAI delineates infections, pathogens, resistograms, and facilitates antimicrobial therapy, infection-control, antimicrobial stewardship, and improvement in quality of care. Methods This prospective outcome surveillance study was conducted amongst 2067 ICU patients in a 1000-bedded teaching hospital. Clinical, laboratory, and environmental surveillance, as well as screening of health care professionals (HCPs) were conducted using the modified US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–National Healthcare Safety Network definitions and methods. Morbidity, mortality, and health-care indices were analyzed and two-tier infection prevention and control was promulgated. Results Mean occupancy was 95.34% for 2061 patients of 7381 patients/bed/ICU days. One hundred seventeen episodes of DAI occurred in 1258 patients of 12,882 device-days with mean device utilization ratio of 1.79. Mean rate of DAI was 7.40 per 1000 device days. Multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa was most commonly followed by Acinetobacter. Mean all-cause mortality in ICU was 24.85%, whereas all-cause mortality after DAI was 9.79%. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prevalence was 38.46% amongst health-care professionals. Conclusion Mean rates of VAP, CLABSI, and CAUTI were 20.69, 2.53, and 2.23 per 1000 device days comparable with Indian and global ICUs. Resolute conviction and sustained momentum in infection prevention and control is an essential step toward patient safety.

Machine learning; Mechanical ventilation; Prognostic model Aprenentatge automàtic; Ventilació mecànica; Model pronòstic Aprendizaje automático; Ventilacion mecanica; Modelo pronóstico Purpose Existing expert systems have not improved the diagnostic accuracy of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The aim of this systematic literature review was to review and summarize state-of-the-art prediction models detecting or predicting VAP from exhaled breath, patient reports and demographic and clinical characteristics. Methods Both diagnostic and prognostic prediction models were searched from a representative list of multidisciplinary databases. An extensive list of validated search terms was added to the search to cover papers failing to mention predictive research in their title or abstract. Two authors independently selected studies, while three authors extracted data using predefined criteria and data extraction forms. The Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool was used to assess both the risk of bias and the applicability of the prediction modelling studies. Technology readiness was also assessed. Results Out of 2052 identified studies, 20 were included. Fourteen (70%) studies reported the predictive performance of diagnostic models to detect VAP from exhaled human breath with a high degree of sensitivity and a moderate specificity. In addition, the majority of them were validated on a realistic dataset. The rest of the studies reported the predictive performance of diagnostic and prognostic prediction models to detect VAP from unstructured narratives [2 (10%)] as well as baseline demographics and clinical characteristics [4 (20%)]. All studies, however, had either a high or unclear risk of bias without significant improvements in applicability. Conclusions The development and deployment of prediction modelling studies are limited in VAP and related outcomes. More computational, translational, and clinical research is needed to bring these tools from the bench to the bedside. The project is supported by the Academy of Finland (project number 326291) and the University of Oulu.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with severe traumatic brain injury can be up to 40 % and this is largely due to the prolonged exposure to mechanical ventilation. The presence of ventilator-associated pneumonia compounds the severity of the disease, which is associated with the factors such as hypoxia, fever, hypotension, increased intracranial pressure. Patients with invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure are at high risk of infection, which is 27 %. The article, based on the position of Guidelines for Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury 4th Edition, 2016 provides evidence on the prevention of infection risks associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia and external ventricular drain. Concerning ventilator-associa­ted pneumonia three positions were analyzed: the first estimated the time of overlay of tracheostomy (early, late); second one evaluated oral care with povidone-iodine; in the third there were estimated the infection prevention methods associated with the systems for external ventricular drain, by impregnating the catheters with antibiotics. The analysis found that early tracheostomy is recommended to reduce the days of mechanical ventilation, when the total benefits significantly outweigh the complications associated with this procedure. However, there is no evidence that early tracheostomy reduces mortality or incidence of nosocomial pneumonia. The use of povidone-iodine for the purpose of oral care in order to reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumoniais not recommended and may lead to increased risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome. Catheters for external ventricular drainage, impregnated with antibiotic, may be considered for the prevention of catheter-related infections in the external ventricular drainage.

Aerosolized antibiotics are being increasingly used to treat respiratory infections, especially those caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Their use in the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients is especially significant. They are also used as an efficient alternative to overcome the issues caused by systemic administration of antibiotics, including the occurrence of drug-resistant strains, drug toxicity, and insufficient drug concentration at the target site. However, the rationale for the use of aerosolized antibiotics is limited owing to their insufficient efficacy and the potential for underestimated risks of developing side effects. Despite the lack of availability of high-quality evidence, the use of aerosolized antibiotics is considered as an attractive alternative treatment approach, especially in patients with multidrug-resistant pathogens. In this review, we have discussed the effectiveness and side effects of aerosolized antibiotics as well as the latest advancements in this field and usage in the Republic of Korea.

Prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) like ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is particularly challenging especially in resource limited settings. Complex microbial interactions between patients and health care workers (HCWs) further complicate the situation, requiring a holistic approach for successful management. To bridge the gap between laboratory and intensive care unit (ICU) this study was conducted to find the role of hand-held microscope 'Foldscope' in restricting empirical therapy in intubated patients.A total of 75 endotracheal aspirates (ETA) were collected from intubated patients in the ICU with (group 1) and without (group 2) VAP. For group 2, those with less than 48 ​h ventilation and with endotracheal tube (ETT) in situ were considered. Presence of biomass was detected through foldscope and ETA samples were processed for quantitative gram staining (QGS), semi-quantitative and quantitative culture. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii, the commonest isolate, was done and findings were statistically analysed.Biomass was present as seen through a foldscope in 45 cases (90%) in group 1 and 17 cases (68%) in group 2. In both the groups, A. baumannii was the most common isolate. Biomass production, significant QGS and culture was significantly more in group 1 (p ​ ​0.05). However, carbapenem resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) was comparably present in both the groups thus showing limited role of empirical carbapenem therapy.Early assessment of biomass in mechanically ventilated patients could provide guidance for empirical antibiotic therapy. Foldscope proved to be an excellent tool for restricting empirical therapy and driving antimicrobial stewardship in low resource settings.

Purpose To describe the incidence and risk factors of methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus ventilator associated pneumonia (MSSA-VAP) relapse in trauma and non-traumatic brain injury patients. Materials and methods Retrospective observational monocentric cohort study of consecutive ICU patients who developed a first episode of MSSA-VAP after trauma and non-traumatic brain injury. MSSA-VAP relapse encompass MSSA-VAP treatment failure (persistence or recurrence of MSSA) or other pathogen - VAP. Results A total of 165 patients (71% of trauma and 29% of non-traumatic brain injury) with MSSA-VAP were included. MSSA-VAP relapse occurred in 54 (33%) patients, including 28 (17%) MSSA-VAP treatment failure and 46 (28%) other pathogen-VAP. Empirical first-line antibiotic therapy was appropriate in 96% of cases. In multivariate analysis, the presence of Streptococcus species (Odds ratio [OR] 7.37) and oropharyngeal flora (OR 3.64) as initial MSSA co-pathogen, suggested aspiration at the time of admission and independently predicted MSSA-VAP treatment failure. Initial Glasgow coma scale (OR 0.89), need for emergent surgery (OR 5.71) and the presence of an acute respiratory distress syndrome at the time of the first MSSA-VAP (3.99), independently predicted the onset of other pathogen – VAP. Conclusion Early and simple factors may help to identify patients with high-risk of MSSA-VAP relapse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shifted the focus of safety surveillance in mechanically ventilated patients from ventilator-associated pneumonia to ventilator-associated events in 2013 to increase the objectivity and reproducibility of surveillance and to encourage quality improvement programs to focus on preventing a broader array of complications. Ventilator-associated events are associated with a doubling of the risk of dying. Prospective studies have found that minimizing sedation, increasing spontaneous awakening and breathing trials, and conservative fluid management can decrease event rates and the duration of ventilation. Multifaceted interventions to enhance these practices can decrease ventilator-associated event rates.

Purpose of review We conducted a systematic literature review to summarize the available evidence regarding the incidence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation because of acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection (C-ARDS). Recent findings Sixteen studies (6484 patients) were identified. Bacterial coinfection was uncommon at baseline (50%) of developing VAP, most commonly because of Gram-negative bacteria. Further work is needed to elucidate the disease-specific risk factors for VAP, strategies for prevention, and how best to differentiate between bacterial colonization versus superinfection.

Background: Many trauma centers have empiric treatment algorithms for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) treatment prior to culture results that include antibiotic agents for methicillin-resista...

Objectives Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection in patients requiring mechanical ventilation in intensive care units (ICUs). VAP is associated with delayed extubation, prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs and mortality rates. The aims of this study to evaluate the level of knowledge for the prevention of VAP among healthcare workers (HCWs) in ICUs and to assess their knowledge in relation to their socio-demographic characteristics. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional design was conducted to assess HCWs’ knowledge of the guidelines for prevention of VAP in the ICUs of public and private hospitals in Hodeida city, Yemen. Around 140 self-administered multiple-choice questionnaires were distributed between April and July 2017. Results A total of 120 (85.6%) HCWs completed questionnaire were obtained (20 physicians, 20 anesthesia technicians and 80 nurses) in this study. The total mean score of the HCWs’ knowledge was low (41 ± 18). A statistically significant difference was found in the HCWs’ knowledge scores according to their specialties and gender. Anesthesia technicians had the highest knowledge score followed by physicians and nurses (52.2 ± 16.2, 45.6 ± 21.2 and 37.1 ± 16.9, respectively, p=0.002). Males had higher scores than females (Median [IQR] 4 [3–5] vs. 3 [2–4], p Conclusions HCWs had a low knowledge level of the guidelines for the prevention of VAP, which may affect their practice. HCWs’ knowledge was affected by their previous received information that increases the necessity to provide them with regular in-service education and training programs.

Rationale: Current guidelines recommend patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia receive empirical antibiotics for suspected bacterial superinfection on the basis of weak evidence. Rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in clinical trials of patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia are unexpectedly low. Objectives: We conducted an observational single-center study to determine the prevalence and etiology of bacterial superinfection at the time of initial intubation and the incidence and etiology of subsequent bacterial VAP in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Methods: Bronchoscopic BAL fluid samples from all patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation were analyzed using quantitative cultures and a multiplex PCR panel. Actual antibiotic use was compared with guideline-recommended therapy. Measurements and Main Results: We analyzed 386 BAL samples from 179 patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation. Bacterial superinfection within 48 hours of intubation was detected in 21% of patients. Seventy-two patients (44.4%) developed at least one VAP episode (VAP incidence rate = 45.2/1,000 ventilator days); 15 (20.8%) initial VAPs were caused by difficult-to-treat pathogens. The clinical criteria did not distinguish between patients with or without bacterial superinfection. BAL-based management was associated with significantly reduced antibiotic use compared with guideline recommendations. Conclusions: In patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation, bacterial superinfection at the time of intubation occurs in

BACKGROUND: The pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused huge number of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in a critical need to mechanical ventilation. Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) has been noticed as a common complication in these patients with unfavorable outcomes. The current study aimed to assess bacterial and fungal VAP in COVID-19 patients admitted to ICUs during the second wave and to identify the possible risk factors. METHODS: Respiratory samples were collected from 197 critically ill COVID-19 patients under mechanical ventilation. Bacterial and fungal superinfections were diagnosed by microbiological cultures with subsequent antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolates using available kits. RESULTS: All specimens 197/197 (100%) were positive for bacterial infections, while fungal elements were detected in 134/197 (68%) of specimens. The most frequently isolated bacteria were pan drug resistant (PDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae (41.1%), followed by multi drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii (27.4%). On the other hand, Candida species represented the most frequently isolated fungi (75.4%) followed by molds including Aspergillus (16.4%) and Mucor (8.2%) species. Possible risk factors for fungal VAP included underlying diabetes mellitus (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-3.31; p = 0.02), chest disease (95% CI 1.01-3.32; p = 0.05), hypothyroidism (95% CI 1.01-4.78; p = 0.05), and longer duration of mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001). Furthermore, all patients 134/134 (100%) who developed fungal VAP, were already under treatment with corticosteroids and Tocilizumab. CONCLUSION: Bacterial and fungal VAP in critically ill COVID-19 patients is a serious problem in the current pandemic. Urgent and strategic steps to keep it under control are compulsory.

Introduction The efficacy and safety of adjunctive inhaled antibiotic therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) was systematically reviewed based on updated studies. Methods We searched four databases and four clinical trial registration platforms to identify relevant studies published prior to May 19, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing adjunctive antibiotic inhalation treatment for VAP patients were eligible for this review. Two reviewers independently screened the articles and extracted the data. Information on inhaled therapy and clinical outcomes was collected. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The meta-analysis was conducted with Review Manager and R software. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines were used to evaluate the quality of evidence for each pooled outcome. Results Eleven RCTs and 1210 patients were included in this analysis after the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Compared with the use of intravenous injection alone, the use of adjunctive inhaled antibiotic therapy improved the rates of clinical cure (relative risk (RR) 1.13, 95% CI [1.02,1.26]) and microbiological eradication (RR 1.45, 95% CI [1.19,1.76]) in VAP patients. However, despite these improvements, mortality was not reduced (RR 1.00, 95% CI [0.82,1.21]). Adjunctive antibiotics delivered through the respiratory tract were not associated with a higher risk of renal impairment but were associated with an increased risk of bronchospasm (RR 2.74, 95% CI [1.31,5.73] during treatment. Conclusions Adjunctive inhaled antibiotics improved the clinical outcomes in VAP patients, but the increased rates clinical cure and microbiological eradication were not associated with reduced mortality. The use of nebulized antibiotics is not supported by the currently available evidence as a routine therapeutic strategy for VAP. PROSPERO registration number CRD42020186970.

Background Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are considered one of the most common adverse events in health care service provision. In order to prevent the occurrence of HAIs, it is important to implement several prevention strategies. Objectives This study aims to determine the incidence of healthcare-associated infections in a military hospital in Alkharj and the adherence to the HAIs’ prevention strategies. Methods This study included exporting data for all infected cases confirmed by the infection disease specialists in 2019. The data were collected from the reports that were written by infection control unit and infectious disease department. Results The rate of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in 2019 was 0.43% of total patient admissions. The rate of central line associated bloodstream infections in 2019 was 1.15 per 1000 central line days. The rate of catheter associated urinary tract infections in 2019 was 1.00 per 1000 catheter days. The rate of ventilator associated pneumonia in 2019 was 2.11 per 1000 ventilator days and the rate of surgical site infections in 2019 was 0.41 %. Conclusion The rate of overall healthcare-associated infections (HAI) was low. The compliance rate of health care workers to preventive measures that control HAIs was generally high but there was a need for more awareness particularly regarding personal protective equipment and hand hygiene. So it is important to attend more awareness activities and workshops particularly regarding personal protective equipment and hand hygiene. Furthermore, infection control unit and infectious disease department in the hospital should support the robust HAI prevention programs.

Introduction: With an occurrence ranging from 6-52%, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common ICU acquired infection, accounting for a significant portion of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). VAP is pneumonia that develops after a period of more than 48 hours of mechanical ventilation or endotracheal intubation. Aim: To isolate and identify the potential pathogens causing VAP and to study their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Materials and Methods: Endotracheal aspiration (ETA) or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were collected from patients on mechanical ventilation >48 hours. Bacterial isolates were identified based on culture colony characteristics and biochemical parameters. Antibiotic susceptibility profile was determined for these isolates by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method as per Clinical and laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 2020 guidelines and studied. Results: Among the isolates, the most common were Klebsiella pneumoniae (31.31%) and Acinetobacter baumanii (31.31%). These were followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.22%), Klebsiella oxytoca (7.07%), Escherichia coli (3.03%) and Proteus mirabilis (3.03%) and Staphylococcus aureus (2.02%). Conclusion: Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) microbes causing VAP are on the increase. The patient population at risk will benefit by the application of the results of this study. The antibiotic resistance pattern of these isolates will aid clinicians in selecting the appropriate antimicrobial agents. Hence, it can lead to decreased mortality and morbidity due to life-threatening VAP. Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, Ventilator associated pneumonia, Hospital acquired infection.

Objective: Hospital-associated infections (HAIs) contribute to increased morbidity and mortality, excess healthcare cost, and prolonged hospital stay. This study aims to determine the incidence, risk factors of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), surgical site infection (SSI), and central line associated blood stream infection (CLABSI). Together it also assesses the knowledge and practice of nursing staff, physician in understanding HAIs and prevention, also to improve the core knowledge of administration procedures. Methods: A prospective study was conducted among patients, nurses, and doctors of Shamanur Shivashankarapa Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center hospital for a period of about 6 months. The data were collected, analyzed in terms of both inferential and descriptive statistics. Results: The incidence rate of VAP was found to be 23.61%. VAP was more prominent in males and occurred more in patients who received prolonged ventilation, supine position, and altered mental status, and these risk factors was found to be statistically significant (p

Background: We aimed to assess independent risk factors for inadequate initial antimicrobial treatment (IAT) in critically ill patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) treated in intensi...

During COVID-19, immature granulocyte (IG) concentration is heterogeneous with higher concentrations than those found in bacterial sepsis. We investigated the relationship between IG levels at ICU admission and on days 7 (± 2) and 15 (± 2) and associated pulmonary bacterial infections in intensive care unit (ICU) patients hospitalized for an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) related to SARS-CoV-2. Patients with associated pulmonary bacterial infection had a peak of IGs. IG thresholds of 18% or 2 G/L allowed discriminating patients with ventilator associated pneumonia with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Our study supports that IGs could help identifying pulmonary bacterial infections in this population. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40560-021-00575-3.

Selective digestive decontamination (SDD) regimens, variously constituted with topical antibiotic prophylaxis (TAP) and protocolized parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis (PPAP), appear highly effective for preventing ICU-acquired infections but only within randomized concurrent control trials (RCCT’s). Confusingly, SDD is also a concept which, if true, implies population benefit. The SDD concept can finally be reified in humans using the broad accumulated evidence base, including studies of TAP and PPAP that used non-concurrent controls (NCC), as a natural experiment. However, this test implicates overall population harm with higher event rates associated with SDD use within the ICU context.

Background: Patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) were expected to have poor Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) recovery and prolonged intubation. Therefore, an early tracheostomy procedure was indicated for all severe TBI. In view of growing concern regarding the safety and outcome of early tracheostomy on these patients, it was deemed valid and needed to be addressed. Methods: This study was conducted to compare the outcomes of early and late tracheostomies in severe TBI. Only severe TBI patients who were admitted to the Neurosurgery High Dependency Unit (NHDU), Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia and who had underwent a tracheostomy were recruited. Three main outcomes noted: duration on ventilation, length of NHDU stay and rate of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). Results: Out of 155 patients, 72 (46.5%) were in early tracheostomy group (ETG) and 83 (53.5%) were in late tracheostomy group (LTG). The majority of the participants, 95 (61.3%) were ethnic Malays. The mean duration on ventilator use was 2.65 days (1.57) for ETG and 5.63 days (2.35) for LTG. While, mean NHDU stay was 4.75 days (1.98) for ETG and 9.77 days (2.70) for LTG. Upon independent t-test, early duration of tracheostomies had shown significant outcome in reducing length of NHDU stay, (P < 0.001) and had shortening participants’ time on mechanical ventilator (P < 0.001). Then, based on forward multiple logistic regression test, there were significant association between comorbid (P = 0.003) and tracheostomy (P = 0.020) towards presence of VAP when adjusted for other variables. Conclusion: In this study it was found that early tracheostomy was significant in shortening the duration on ventilator, reducing the length of NHDU stay and reducing the rate of VAP.

Introduction Tigecycline is a potential alternative to trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole in treating Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections due to its potent in vitro antimicrobial activity. Clinical evidence regarding the use of tigecycline in the treatment of S. maltophilia infections is scarce. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of tigecycline treating ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to S. maltophilia in comparison with fluoroquinolones. Methods This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients admitted between January 2017 and December 2020 with the diagnosis of VAP caused by S. maltophilia receiving either tigecycline or fluoroquinolones as the definitive therapy ≥ 48 h. Clinical outcomes including 28-day mortality, clinical cure and microbiological cure were analyzed. Results Of 82 patients with S. maltophilia VAP included, 46 received tigecycline, and 36 received fluoroquinolones; 70.7% of patients had polymicrobial pneumonia, and the appropriate empiric therapy was applied to only 14.6% of patients. The overall 28-day mortality was 39%. Compared with patients receiving fluoroquinolones, tigecycline therapy resulted in worse clinical cure (32.6% vs. 63.9%, p = 0.009) and microbiological cure (28.6% vs. 59.1%, p = 0.045), while there was no statistical difference between 28-day mortality (47.8% vs. 27.8%, p = 0.105) in the two groups. Similar results were also shown in the inverse probability of treatment weighted univariable regression model and multivariable regression model. Conclusions The standard dose of tigecycline therapy was associated with a lower clinical and microbiological cure rate but not associated with an increased 28-day mortality in patients with S. maltophilia VAP compared with fluoroquinolones. Considering the unfavorable clinical outcomes, we therefore recommend against using the standard dose of tigecycline in treating S. maltophilia VAP unless new clinical evidence emerges. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40121-021-00516-5.

Background Ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infection (VA-LRTI) is common among critically ill patients and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In acute critical illness, respiratory microbiome disruption indices (MDIs) have been shown to predict risk for VA-LRTI, but their utility beyond the first days of critical illness is unknown. We sought to characterize how MDIs previously shown to predict VA-LRTI at initiation of mechanical ventilation change with prolonged mechanical ventilation, and if they remain associated with VA-LRTI risk. Methods We developed a cohort of 83 subjects admitted to a long-term acute care hospital due to their prolonged dependence on mechanical ventilation; performed dense, longitudinal sampling of the lower respiratory tract, collecting 1066 specimens; and characterized the lower respiratory microbiome by 16S rRNA sequencing as well as total bacterial abundance by 16S rRNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Cross-sectional MDIs, including low Shannon diversity and high total bacterial abundance, were associated with risk for VA-LRTI, but associations had wide posterior credible intervals. Persistent lower respiratory microbiome disruption showed a more robust association with VA-LRTI risk, with each day of (base e) Shannon diversity Conclusions Cross-sectional MDIs have limited ability to discriminate VA-LRTI risk during prolonged mechanical ventilation, but persistent lower respiratory tract microbiome disruption, best characterized by consecutive days with low Shannon diversity, may identify a population at high risk for infection and may help target infection-prevention interventions.

Background Respiratory infections are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. This study examined antimicrobial susceptibility of common respiratory isolates from veterans. Methods Sputum culture data from the Veteran Health Administration were obtained retrospectively between January 2009 and 2019. Cumulative antibiograms were constructed for bacterial isolate susceptibility. Results Sputum and bronchial cultures from approximately 10,345 veterans were included each year. Haemophilus influenzae has maintained high levels of susceptibility to third generation cephalosporins from 2009 (99.7%) to 2018 (97.2%). Third generation cephalosporin susceptibilities amongst Klebsiella pneumoniae have trended upward from 2009 to 2018 as well (79.1% vs 86.4%). In Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, there has been an increase in susceptibility rates to cefepime from 2009 to 2018 (79.6%, to 86.6%), gentamicin (81.5% to 89.1%), and piperacillin/tazobactam (86.5% to 90%). Fluoroquinolone susceptibilities amongst Escherichia coli have remained low but stable between 2009 and 2018. Third generation cephalosporin susceptibilities for S. pneumoniae improved slightly from 92.2% to 95% between 2009 and 2018 while susceptibility to azithromycin trended down slightly from 56.8% in 2009 to 51.7% in 2018 for S. pneumoniae. Discussion The antibiogram of sputum isolates from the VA Healthcare System were examined to determine changes in patterns of resistance over a decade of use. Conclusions This large-scale study investigated nationwide sputum culture susceptibility trends. Avoidance of macrolides for empiric treatment of community acquired pneumonia and avoidance of fluoroquinolones for empiric treatment of hospital acquired or ventilator associated pneumonia may be warranted based on susceptibility trends.

Objective: To assess the incidence, risk factors and outcome of ventilator associated pneumonia in trauma patients. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute of Trauma, Karachi, from Jul to Dec 2019. Methodology: All trauma patients, above 12 years, placed on mechanical ventilation in the emergency room or intensive care unit, were enrolled. Patients that developed a clinical pulmonary infection score of less than 6 were diagnosed with ventilator associated pneumonia. Results: A total of 113 patients were enrolled in this study. Mean age was 32.9 ± 14.4 years. Thirty eight (33.6%) developed ventilator associated pneumonia. Patients with ventilator associated pneumonia, compared to non-ventilator associated pneumonia, had a longer emergency room stay of 7.8 ± 10.1 vs. 4.7 ± 7.4 days (p-value=0.013), greater ventilator days of 18.5 ± 12.6 vs. 7.9 ± 5.5 (p-value=0.001), longer hospital stay of >14 days in 65.8% vs. 33.3% (p-value=0.001) and higher mortality of 65.8% vs. 56% (p-value=0.213). Nurse to patient ratio and infection control measures for prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia were significantly reduced in emergency room compared to intensive care unit (p-value=0.001). Out of 43 respiratory isolates in 38 ventilator associated pneumonia patients, 40 (93%) were gram negatives of which 23 (57.5%) were multidrug resistant with polymyxins as the only therapeutic option. Conclusion: There was a high incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia in patients with trauma. Prolonged retention in the emergency room is a significant risk factor for ventilator associated pneumonia, due to understaffing..................

Zu-Qin Yang,1 Jing-Yun Mai,2 Min-Li Zhu,2 Xiu-Man Xiao,2 Xiao-Xiao He,2 Shang-Qin Chen,2 Zhen-Lang Lin,2 Xing Feng1 1Department of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215025, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neonatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xing FengDepartment of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhongnan Street, Wuzhong District, Suzhou, 215025, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 0512 80692700Fax +86 0512 80693599Email fengxing1938@21cn.comBackground: Neonatal ventilator-associated pneumonia (NVAP) is one of the main infections acquired in hospitals, and soluble triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) are a TREM-1 subtype that can be released into the blood or bodily fluids during an infection.Methods: The patients included in the present study were divided into three groups: the NVAP group, the first control group, and the second control group (n = 20, each). Children requiring respiratory treatment were assigned to the NVAP group, newborns who received mechanical ventilation and had neonatal respiratory distress syndrome were assigned to the first control group, and newborns with normal X-ray and electrocardiogram results but no non-pulmonary infection was assigned to the second control group. The blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) sTREM-1 levels in all newborns were analyzed.Results: The acute-phase blood and BALF sTREM-1 levels were significantly higher in the NVAP group than in the first control group, and the blood sTREM-1 expression level was lower in the second control group than in the NVAP group.Conclusion: The present results suggest that sTREM-1 might be a useful biomarker for NVAP prediction in the Department of Pediatrics.Keywords: pneumonia, neonatal ventilator-associated pneumonia, soluble TREM-1, neonate, C-reactive protein

Background Evidence-based economic decision making is key in health care. Presently, however, studies reporting financial outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) care bundles have not been systematically evaluated. Method This scoping review investigated the characteristics and findings of studies of the economic impact of VAP bundle implementation. A systematic search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL) for relevant English language studies was undertaken (January 2000-February 2020). Methodological quality was evaluated using a Joanna Briggs Institute quality appraisal checklist. Article screening and quality appraisals were performed by 2 reviewers. Reference lists of included studies were hand-searched for additional articles. Reporting followed PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) standards. Results From 181 citations, 10 articles met inclusion criteria. Eight studies evaluated cost impacts on acute care and there were 2 cost-modeling studies. Results consistently indicated that effective VAP bundle implementation decreased healthcare costs. However, studies were heterogeneous with respect to research methods and objectives and were judged to have a moderate-to-high risk of bias. Discussion Effective implementation of VAP care bundles was associated with superior clinical and economic outcomes. However, despite finding a moderate volume of research, study heterogeneity inhibited strong conclusions being drawn regarding the degree of associated cost savings. Conclusion Additional research involving multisite/multijurisdiction studies using experimental designs are needed to progress the field and overcome gaps in the existing literature.

Background: The moment most common cause of in-hospital infection is pneumonia. Pneumonia is prevalent within the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) setting and can be deadly. The Incidence of pneumonia is approximately 17% in the therapeutic ICU2 but can be 6 to 20 times increased in mechanically ventilated patients. The duration of hospital stay and expenditure are both expanded in patients who develop ventilator-associated pneumonia. This study aims to identify the causative microorganism responsible for CAP (Community-Acquired Pneumonia) and VAP (Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia) and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study that was carried out at two ICU in Sylhet city. The data was collected from the patient's medical information, the patient's file, and the hospital information system. Culture and sensitivity (C/S) were collected from the electronic medical information system (MIS). All data from January 2019 to December 2020, including patient's information, course of the disease (in terms of death or recovery-if available), clinical features, and investigation reports, was transferred to an electronic data collection sheet (Microsoft Excel). After completion of all data collection, analysis was conducted through a spreadsheet. Comparison between two disease groups was made by independent t-test. Within the group, the analysis was done by the Chi-Square test. Results: In this thesis study, it was found that the most common organism responsible for CAP was Streptococcus spp. (34.70%) and is sensitive to Meropenem (92.21%), Imipenem (88.16%), Amikacin (70.67%), Piperacillin (70.91%), Moxifloxacin (70.96%), Levofloxacin (67.95%), Amoxiclav (67.92%), and Ceftriaxone(63.95%). The most common causative organism responsible for VAP was Staphylococcus spp. (36.51%) and it was sensitive to Imipenem (100%), Moxifloxacin (100%), Meropenem (94.73%), Amikacin (85.71%), Ceftriaxone (60%), Amoxiclav (66.66%), Levofloxacin (57.14%), and Cefuroxime (50%). Conclusion: Pneumonia is still one of the most common reasons for hospitalization, particularly for those admitted to ICU. It has been observed in several studies that the majority of the cases are communityacquired pneumonia. Many mechanically ventilated patients often develop VAP, which is fatal if timely diagnosis and appropriate antibiotics administration are not made. Streptococcus spp. was the most common organism responsible for CAP, and Staphylococcus spp. mainly was responsible for VAP.

Aim: To estimate the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and to identify causing microbiological organismsand VAP related mortality rate in children admitted to the ICU. Study design: This was a Cross-sectional and an observational study. Study place and duration: In the Pediatric department of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, for one-year duration from May 2020 to May 2021. Methodology: All admitted children to the pediatric ICU (PICU) and ventilated were selected and observed for any features suggestive of VAP. All suspected children have Partial septic signs. A VAP will be categorized ifchild remains on ventilator for more than 48 hours and when a patient had 2 of these signs of nosocomial infection - TLC 15,000 mm3 , fever> 101 ° F, CRP> 48 mg / L, neutrophils> 85% or a new chest X-rayexhibited pneumonia withradiological sign of progressive, persistent or new infiltrates. The chi-square test was used for comparison of percentages with a value of Less than 0.05 p. Results: Of all the cases admitted, the average length of ICU stay was 8.65 ± 6.45 per day. Children who needed VAP required 14.2 ±9.5 days of ventilation and 7.5± 5.2 days for children who have not VAP progression. Of 100 cohort of children necessitating ventilation, 22 died and 2 were left without advice or serious illness, with a total mortality of 22%. Conclusion: The VAP incidence in this study was 22%. Features related with a higher incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia include age 48 mg / L, purulent tracheal secretions, positive tracheal culture of aspirate and positive X-ray results. Key words: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), Nosocomial infections,PICU and Children.

Introduction Prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is the focus in critical care units. Immunocompromised patients, older adults, and postoperative patients are at greater risk for VAP. With the dynamic changes in the empirical world, updated evidence must be used to guide the standard of practice. This literature review assimilates the recent evidence for VAP prevention. Method The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis framework guided the selection of the included research articles. Medline, EBSCO host, CINAHL, UpToDate and Google Scholar databases explored, for relevant publications between 2010 and 2020. The quality of evidence for the 14 studies selected were rated using the hierarchy of quantitative research designs. Results Evidence-based VAP preventive strategies are prevention of aspiration, minimizing ventilator days, reducing the pathogen load, safe endotracheal suction practices, and pharmaceutical preventive measures. The mandates for VAP preventive measures among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is included. Conclusion Though some of these themes identify with the past, the nuances in their implementation are highlights of this review. The review reiterates the need to revisit ambiguous practices implemented for VAP prevention. Adherence to evidence-based practices, by education, training, and reduction of workload is the key to VAP prevention.

Objective:We examined the impact of microbiological results from respiratory samples on choice of antibiotic therapy in patients treated for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).Design:Four-year retrospective study.Setting:Veterans’ Health Administration (VHA).Patients:VHA patients hospitalized with HAP or VAP and with respiratory cultures between October 1, 2014, and September 30, 2018.Interventions:We compared patients with positive and negative respiratory culture results, assessing changes in antibiotic class and Antibiotic Spectrum Index (ASI) from the day of sample collection (day 0) through day 7.Results:Between October 1, 2014, and September 30, 2018, we identified 5,086 patients with HAP/VAP: 2,952 with positive culture results and 2,134 with negative culture results. All-cause 30-day mortality was 21% for both groups. The mean time from respiratory sample receipt in the laboratory to final respiratory culture result was longer for those with positive (2.9 ± 1.3 days) compared to negative results (2.5 ± 1.3 days; P < .001). The most common pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Vancomycin and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors were the most commonly prescribed agents. The decrease in the median ASI from 13 to 8 between days 0 and 6 was similar among patients with positive and negative respiratory cultures. Patients with negative cultures were more likely to be off antibiotics from day 3 onward.Conclusions:The results of respiratory cultures had only a small influence on antibiotics used during the treatment of HAP/VAP. The decrease in ASI for both groups suggests the integration of antibiotic stewardship principles, including de-escalation, into the care of patients with HAP/VAP.

Objective: To identify antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of multidrug resistant bacteria causing secondary infections in COVID-19 patients in ICU’ sofa tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cross–sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from Apr to Jul 2020. Methodology: This study included blood samples and endotracheal aspirates from 114 critically ill COVID-19 patients. Peripheral blood specimens were collected fromthe patients with secondary bacterial blood stream infections and endotracheal aspirates were collected from patients with ventilator associated pneumonia for culture and sensitivity. The results were interpreted according to Clinical & Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) 2020. Results: A total of 114 COVID-19 patients were admitted in ICU during that time period. Fourteen (12.28%) were female and 100 (87.71%) were male, age distribution was between 36-82 years. Sixty six paired blood samples were sent to the microbiology lab out of which 51 (77.2%) showed bacterial growth while 15 (22.7%) samples were negative. Out of 50 endotracheal aspirates, 42 showed bacterial growth (84%) and 8 samples did not show any significant bacterial growth (16%). Most of the endotracheal aspirates showed growth of >1 bacterial isolates. The most common gram-negative organisms were Acinetobacter baumannii (n=54) and Klebsiella pneumonia (n=26) and most common gram-positive organism isolated was Enterococcus faecium (n=9). All isolated organisms were multidrug resistant. Conclusion: Poor antimicrobial stewardship particularly in critical care units resulted in secondary bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients. The pathogens isolated were multidrug resistant including Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumonia and Enterococcus faecium.

Background Patients with obesity are at higher risk for community-acquired and nosocomial infections. However, no study has specifically evaluated the relationship between obesity and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Research Question Is obesity associated with an increased incidence of VAP? Study Design and Methods This study was a post hoc analysis of the Impact of Early Enteral vs Parenteral Nutrition on Mortality in Patients Requiring Mechanical Ventilation and Catecholamines (NUTRIREA2) open-label, randomized controlled trial performed in 44 French ICUs. Adults receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and vasopressor support for shock and parenteral nutrition or enteral nutrition were included. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 at ICU admission. VAP diagnosis was adjudicated by an independent blinded committee, based on all available clinical, radiologic, and microbiologic data. Only first VAP episodes were taken into account. Incidence of VAP was analyzed by using the Fine and Gray model, with extubation and death as competing risks. Results A total of 699 (30%) of the 2,325 included patients had obesity; 224 first VAP episodes were diagnosed (60 and 164 in obese and nonobese groups, respectively). The incidence of VAP at day 28 was 8.6% vs 10.1% in the two groups (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% CI 0.63-1.14; P = .26). After adjustment on sex, McCabe score, age, antiulcer treatment, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment at randomization, the incidence of VAP remained nonsignificant between obese and nonobese patients (hazard ratio, 0.893; 95% CI, 0.66-1.2; P = .46). Although no significant difference was found in duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay, 90-day mortality was significantly lower in obese than in nonobese patients (272 of 692 [39.3%] patients vs 718 of 1,605 [44.7%]; P = .02). In a subgroup of patients (n = 123) with available pepsin and alpha-amylase measurements, no significant difference was found in rate of abundant microaspiration of gastric contents, or oropharyngeal secretions between obese and nonobese patients. Interpretation Our results suggest that obesity has no significant impact on the incidence of VAP.

Background This study was performed to develop and validate machine learning models for early detection of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) 24 h before diagnosis, so that VAP patients can receive early intervention and reduce the occurrence of complications. Patients and methods This study was based on the MIMIC-III dataset, which was a retrospective cohort. The random forest algorithm was applied to construct a base classifier, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity of the prediction model were evaluated. Furthermore, We also compare the performance of Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS)-based model (threshold value ≥ 3) using the same training and test data sets. Results In total, 38,515 ventilation sessions occurred in 61,532 ICU admissions. VAP occurred in 212 of these sessions. We incorporated 42 VAP risk factors at admission and routinely measured the vital characteristics and laboratory results. Five-fold cross-validation was performed to evaluate the model performance, and the model achieved an AUC of 84% in the validation, 74% sensitivity and 71% specificity 24 h after intubation. The AUC of our VAP machine learning model is nearly 25% higher than the CPIS model, and the sensitivity and specificity were also improved by almost 14% and 15%, respectively. Conclusions We developed and internally validated an automated model for VAP prediction using the MIMIC-III cohort. The VAP prediction model achieved high performance based on its AUC, sensitivity and specificity, and its performance was superior to that of the CPIS model. External validation and prospective interventional or outcome studies using this prediction model are envisioned as future work.

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is pneumonia in patients who use mechanical ventilator. The empirical antibiotic therapy is given to VAP patients based on bacterial mapping and its antibiotic sensitivity. The aim of this study is to determine bacterial identification and antibiotic sensitivity of VAP patients at RSD dr. Soebandi Jember. This study is a retrospective study, the data collected from medical record of VAP patients from September to October 2019. All samples that is meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria was recruited in this study. Data analysis was use Microsoft Excel 2010. This study obtained 15 samples. The most frequents bacteria that causes VAP is Acinetobacter baumanii. It is also caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Burkholderia cepacia, Pseudomonas fluorescence, Salmonella arizonae, and Escherichia coli. The bacteria are most sensitive to amikacin, meropenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam and most resistant to cefixime, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone.

Background: Meropenem standard doses are based on the minimum inhibitory concentration of sensitive pathogens and the pharmacokinetic parameter of not critically ill patients. We compared the efficacy of high versus standard dose of meropenem in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Methods: 24 out of 34 eligible patients were randomized to receive meropenem 3 g q8h (high dose group, 11 patients) or 2 g q8h (standard-dose group, 13 patients) as a 3h infusion. The primary outcome was considered as clinical success that was defined as stable hemodynamic, improved sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, stable or improved PaO2/FiO2 after 7 days. Sputum culture was taken before the intervention. Results: Clinical success rate was not significantly different between the high and standard-dose group (54.5% vs. 38.5%, P= 0.431). There was a significant difference in the reduction of clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) compared to a high dose to the standard group (P=0.038). SOFA score declined significantly in the high dose group throughout the study (P=0.006). A shorter duration of VAP treatment was recorded in the high dose group (P=0.061). We did not observe any significant adverse event related to meropenem. Acinetobacter spp. (34.8%), Klebsiella spp. (32.6%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.5%) isolated more frequently from sputum cultures. Conclusion: Treatment with the high dose of meropenem seems to be safe. However, it did not provide a significantly higher clinical success rate in comparison with the standard dose, but could be considered as an appropriate empirical treatment in patients with severe infection due to reduction in SOFA and CPIS. The trial protocol was registered with IRCT.ir (registration number IRCT2010010700 3014N19 in April 2018).

Background: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection diagnosed in the intensive care units (ICUs). Hence the present study was undertaken to study the incidence, risk factors, case fatality rate of ventilator associated events (VAE) and VAP in ICU of a tertiary level hospital. Method: Total 100 patient of either sex, having the age of >18 years and who was received mechanical ventilation more than 48 hrs for any indication over a period of 12-18 months in an ICU of a tertiary level hospital were studied. Results: The incidence of VAP was 38.0% and VAP rate was 59.6/1000 ventilator days. Post op status (71%) and trauma (22%) were the most common risk factors which lead to VAP and VAE. Acinetobacter spp (19%) and Klebsiella spp (12%) were the two most common microorganisms causing VAP. Mortality or case fatality rate was 42.10%. In ventilator associated events, 45% patients developed VAC (Ventilator associated condition), 44% patients developed IVAC ( Infection related Ventilator associated condition) and 38% patients developed possible VAP. Conclusion: VAP is a serious problem in the ICU leading to longer hospital stay higher treatment costs and increased mortality and morbidity. Prolonged mechanical ventilation is an important risk factor.

BACKGROUND Oral care using chlorhexidine has been considered useful in reducing the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in adult patients. However, no study has proved the effect of oral care in reducing the incidence of VAP in preterm infants. OBJECTIVES To investigate the efficacy of oral care using a sponge brush moistened with sterile water in reducing the bacterial load in the oral cavity and the incidence of early-onset VAP in preterm infants METHODS: The bacterial number in the oral cavity was evaluated on-site with the dielectrophoretic impedance measurement system. Bacterial numbers before and after oral care were investigated prospectively. Then, the incidence of early-onset VAP was compared retrospectively between infants who received oral care before re-intubation and those who did not. RESULTS The mean bacterial number (cfu/ml) in the oral cavity in infants managed with endotracheal intubation (n = 23), continuous positive airway pressure (n = 38), and high-flow nasal cannula (n = 22) significantly reduced (p

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar na literatura nacional e internacional estudos sobre a efetividade e aplicabilidade da clorexidina como agente antimicrobiano na higiene oral, como medida de prevenção de Pneumonia Associada à Ventilação Mecânica (PAVM). Por meio de uma revisão integrativa da literatura com busca de dados realizada entre julho e agosto de 2020 nas bases de dados LILACS, BBO, SciELO e MEDLINE, utilizou-se os descritores: pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica/pneumonia, ventilator-associated/neumonía asociada al ventilador, higiene bucal/higiene bucal/oral hygiene e clorexidina/clorhexidina/chlorhexidine. Foram incluídas pesquisas publicadas na íntegra entre 2015 e 2020 nos idiomas inglês, português ou espanhol. Foram encontrados 13 artigos finais de acordo com os critérios estabelecidos. Destes, 12 artigos (92,3%) demonstraram a eficiência e a capacidade da clorexidina em reduzir os níveis de PAVM em pacientes admitidos em UTI, com resultados satisfatórios mesmo quando comparada com outras substâncias.mA prevalência da PAVM é considerada uma grande adversidade na prevenção de infecções relacionadas à assistência a saúde. É notável que a clorexidina demonstrou capacidade de reduzir estes índices quando utilizada como antimicrobiano na higiene oral diária. Além disso a padronização dos protocolos de cuidados orais, a presença de um cirurgião-dentista na equipe, o trabalho interprofissional e o treinamento da equipe também fazem parte da estratégia de prevenção da PAVM. A partir disso, sugere-se que este mecanismo de prevenção seja inserido na rotina das UTIs, com o propósito de promover qualidade assistencial e segurança ao paciente.

Background Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are at higher risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). No study has evaluated the relationship between VAP and mortality in this population, or compared this relationship between SARS-CoV-2 patients and other populations. The main objective of our study was to determine the relationship between VAP and mortality in SARS-CoV-2 patients. Methods Planned ancillary analysis of a multicenter retrospective European cohort. VAP was diagnosed using clinical, radiological and quantitative microbiological criteria. Univariable and multivariable marginal Cox’s regression models, with cause-specific hazard for duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay, were used to compare outcomes between study groups. Extubation, and ICU discharge alive were considered as events of interest, and mortality as competing event. Findings Of 1576 included patients, 568 were SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, 482 influenza pneumonia, and 526 no evidence of viral infection at ICU admission. VAP was associated with significantly higher risk for 28-day mortality in SARS-CoV-2 group (adjusted HR 1.65 (95% CI 1.11–2.46), p = 0.013), but not in influenza (1.74 (0.99–3.06), p = 0.052), or no viral infection groups (1.13 (0.68–1.86), p = 0.63). VAP was associated with significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation in the SARS-CoV-2 group, but not in the influenza or no viral infection groups. VAP was associated with significantly longer duration of ICU stay in the 3 study groups. No significant difference was found in heterogeneity of outcomes related to VAP between the 3 groups, suggesting that the impact of VAP on mortality was not different between study groups. Interpretation VAP was associated with significantly increased 28-day mortality rate in SARS-CoV-2 patients. However, SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, as compared to influenza pneumonia or no viral infection, did not significantly modify the relationship between VAP and 28-day mortality. Clinical trial registration The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT04359693.

Background Dexamethasone decreases mortality in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has become the standard of care during the second wave of pandemic. Dexamethasone is an immunosuppressive treatment potentially increasing the risk of secondary hospital acquired infections in critically ill patients. We conducted an observational retrospective study in three French intensive care units (ICUs) comparing the first and second waves of pandemic to investigate the role of dexamethasone in the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and blood stream infections (BSI). Patients admitted from March to November 2020 with a documented COVID-19 and requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) for ≥ 48 h were included. The main study outcomes were the incidence of VAP and BSI according to the use of dexamethasone. Secondary outcomes were the ventilator-free days (VFD) at day-28 and day-60, ICU and hospital length of stay and mortality. Results Among the 151 patients included, 84 received dexamethasone, all but one during the second wave. VAP occurred in 63% of patients treated with dexamethasone (DEXA+) and 57% in those not receiving dexamethasone (DEXA−) (p = 0.43). The cumulative incidence of VAP, considering death, duration of MV and late immunosuppression as competing factors was not different between groups (p = 0.59). A multivariate analysis did not identify dexamethasone as an independent risk factor for VAP occurrence. The occurrence of BSI was not different between groups (29 vs. 30%; p = 0.86). DEXA+ patients had more VFD at day-28 (9 (0–21) vs. 0 (0–11) days; p = 0.009) and a reduced ICU length of stay (20 (11–44) vs. 32 (17–46) days; p = 0.01). Mortality did not differ between groups. Conclusions In this cohort of COVID-19 patients requiring invasive MV, dexamethasone was not associated with an increased incidence of VAP or BSI. Dexamethasone might not explain the high rates of VAP and BSI observed in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that the implementation of evidence-based interventions shaping a bundle approach could significantly reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the neonatal intensive care unit. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a prospective observational cohort study including neonates undergoing mechanical ventilation >48 h. VAP rate and endotracheal intubation ratio were compared before (pre-period) and after (post-period) applying VAP prevention bundle strategies. RESULT One hundred seventy-four neonates were included in pre-period (30 months) and 106 in post-period (17 months). Demographic characteristics were comparable and device use ratios were similar. Twenty-eight VAP episodes were diagnosed, 25 in the first period and 3 after the implementation of prevention bundle. This represents a reduction in the incidence rate from 11.79 to 1.93 episodes/1000 ventilator days (p

Background The Pareto principle states that the majority of any effect comes from a minority of the causes. This property is widely used in quality improvement science. Research Question Among patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV), are there subgroups according to MV duration that may serve as potential nodes for high-value interventions aimed at reducing costs without compromising quality? Study Design and Methods This multicenter retrospective cohort study included approximately 780 hospitals in the Premier Research Database (2014-2018). Patients receiving MV were identified by using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, codes. They were then divided into quintiles according to MV duration; their hospital costs, post-MV onset length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, and cumulative post-MV onset hospital days per quintile were compared. Results A total of 691,961 patients were included in the analysis. Median [interquartile range] duration of MV in days by quintile was as follows: quintile 1 (Q1), 1 [1, 1]; Q2, 2 [2, 2]; Q3, 3 [3, 3]; Q4, 6 [6, 7]; and Q5, 13 [10, 19]. Median [interquartile range] post-MV onset LOS (Q1, 2 [0, 5]; Q5, 17 [12, 26]) and hospital costs (Q1, $15,671 [$9,180, $27,901]; Q5, $70,133 [$47,136, $108,032]) rose from Q1 through Q5. Patients in Q5 consumed 47.7% of all post-MV initiation hospital days among all patients requiring MV, and the mean per-patient hospital costs in Q5 exceeded the sum of costs incurred by Q1 to Q3. Adjusted marginal mean (95% CI) hospital costs rose exponentially from Q1 through Q5: Q2 vs Q1, $3,976 ($3,354, $4,598); Q3 vs Q2, $5,532 ($5,103, $5,961); Q4 vs Q3, $11,705 ($11,071, $12,339); and Q5 vs Q4, $26,416 ($25,215, $27,616). Interpretation Patients undergoing MV in the highest quintiles according to duration of MV consume a disproportionate amount of resources, as evidenced by MV duration, hospital LOS, and costs, making them a potential target for streamlining MV care.

Background Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), a triad of ophthalmoplegia, areflexia and ataxia, is one of the regional variants of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) that might account for a quarter of all cases of GBS, especially in Asian countries. There is history of an antecedent upper respiratory tract infection in up to two thirds of MFS cases. However, association of MFS in adults and pneumonia is rarely reported and in those cases causative pathogen was Mycoplasma pneumonia e. To our knowledge, association of MFS and ventilator-associated pneumonia has never been reported. So, we hereby report the first case of MFS which followed ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Case report We report case of a 22-year-old male who was known to have temporal lobe epilepsy and mental retardation. He presented with status epilepticus. He was sedated and put on mechanical ventilation. Two days later, he developed a fever associated with increased tracheobronchial secretions and new infiltrates on chest X-ray. Diagnosis of VAP was made. Upon improvement, he was extubated and shifted out of ICU. Ten days after the onset of fever, he developed gradual onset bulbar weakness and ataxia. On examination, he had generalized areflexia and ataxia. CSF analysis showed cytoalbuminic dissociation. Antibodies against ganglioside complex were elevated. Diagnosis of sero-negative MFS was made, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was started. He improved remarkably within two days. Conclusion MFS is immune-mediated entity which is usually triggered by upper respiratory tract infection but in rare cases it can be consequence of pneumonia including VAP. Further research is needed to establish link between MFS and VAP.

Introduction Prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is influenced by the knowledge and practices of nurses. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge of nurses working in critical care areas of a tertiary level cardiac centre regarding VAP prevention bundles. MethodsIn this descriptive study, 57 nurses working in critical care areas were included, they completed a self-administered questionaire containing demographic information followed by 18 multiple response questions. With the respondents choosing one or more correct answers, the percentage of correct answer for each options was obtained. For each questions, the correct percentage for all the options were averaged and expressed as average knowledge percent. The significance of association was tested using chi-square and Fisher exact test, with level of significance established at 95%. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21. ResultsWith a mean age of 26.8 years, the majority of the nurses had completed Bachelor’s degree (75.4%). Though 91.3% nurses had experience of more than a year in critical care, 87.7% of them had not obtained VAP or infection control training. The mean knowledge score of VAP was 70±7.5%, and 97.4% had satisfactory knowledge. There was no association between knowledge scores on prevention of VAP and educational qualification (p=0.26) and years of experience in intensive care unit (p=0.41). ConclusionAlmost all of the nurses working in critical care areas had satisfactory knowledge regarding VAP bundle, however, they had lower knowledge on the definition and approach to prevent VAP. This study recommends to incorporate more nurses in training related to infection and VAP prevention.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is associated with increased hospital stay and high morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The aims of this study were to (i) determine the incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens in the first episodes of VAP and to assess potential differences in bacterial profiles of subjects with early- versus late-onset VAP. This was a retrospective cohort study over a period of 18 months including all patients who had a first episode of VAP confirmed by positive bacterial culture. Subjects were distributed into two groups according to the number of intubation days: early-onset VAP (&lt, 5 days) or late-onset VAP (≥5 days). The primary endpoint was the nature of causative pathogens and their resistance profiles. Sixty patients were included, 29 men and 31 women, with an average age of 38 ± 16 years. The IGS 2 at admission was 40.5 [32–44] and APACHE was 19 [15–22]. Monomicrobial infections were diagnosed in 77% of patients (n = 46). The most frequently isolated bacteria were A. baumannii, 53% (n = 32), P. aeruginosa in 37% (n = 22), Enterobacterales in 28% (n = 17) and S. aureus in 5% (n = 3). Ninety-seven percent of the bacteria were MDR. The VAP group comprised 36 (60%) episodes of early-onset VAP and 24 (40%) episodes of late-onset VAP. There was no significant difference in the distribution of the bacterial isolates, nor in terms of antibacterial resistances between early- and late-onset VAPs. Our data support recent observations that there is no microbiological difference in the prevalence of potential MDR pathogens or in their resistance profiles associated with early- versus late-onset VAPs, especially in countries with high rates of MDR bacteria.