Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) refers to a type of pneumonia that occurs more than 48-72 hours after end tracheal intubation. This is one of the most common nosocomial infections in ventilated individuals.1, 2 VAP occurs in 9-27 %of intubated patients.3, 4 Delay in initiating appropriate antibiotic therapy can increase the mortality associated with VAP.5, 6 Initial empirical therapy can be modified based on the knowledge of local microbiological data, patient characteristics, and sensitivity pattern of expected pathogens at the institution. One of the consequences of increasing antimicrobial resistance is greater probability of inappropriate empiric antibiotic therapy.7 The aim of this study was to find the incidence of VAP and mortality associated with it. We also aimed to find frequency of pathogens isolated from the tracheal aspirate of patients diagnosed with VAP and the correlation of pathogen with duration of ICU stay. Ventilatory assosciated pneumonia, antibiotic sensitivity, pathogens, mortality.