Targeted temperature management at 36°C is a risk factor for ventilator‐associated pneumonia.

Background: In contrast to the adult population, limited information is currently available on risk factors for ventilator‐associated pneumonia (VAP) in children. Therapeutic hypothermia has been identified as a risk factor for the early onset of VAP in adults; however, the relationship between VAP and normothermia remains unclear. The present study investigated risk factors for VAP in children, with a focus on the deleterious effects of therapeutic normothermia on VAP. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the clinical characteristics of children treated with mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h and analyzed risk factors for VAP. The endpoint was the onset of VAP by the seventh day after the initiation of mechanical ventilation. Results: Among the 288 patients enrolled, seven (2.4%) developed VAP. No significant differences were observed in clinical backgrounds between the VAP and non‐VAP groups. A univariate analysis identified target temperature management (TTM) at 36°C (p < 0.0001) and methylprednisolone (mPSL) pulse therapy (p = 0.02) as risk factors for VAP. An analysis of the time to the onset of VAP by the Kaplan–Meier plot and log‐rank test revealed a significantly higher incidence of VAP in the TTM group (p < 0.0001) and mPSL pulse group (p = 0.001). Conclusion: TTM at 36°C and mPSL pulse therapy may be risk factors for VAP in the pediatric population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]