Ventilator-associated pneumonia in an Italian pediatric intensive care unit: a prospective study.

Background: This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, risk factors and outcomes associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a European pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Methods: A total of 451 children who had been mechanically ventilated in the PICU for ≥ 48 hours during a 3-year period were enrolled in this prospective study.

Results: In comparison with children without VAP, 30 children (6.6%) who developed VAP had a longer PICU stay (P=0.0001) and hospital stay (P=0.0001), and a higher mortality rate (P=0.04). Logistic regression analysis showed that the need for re-intubation (P=0.0001), the presence of tracheostomy (P=0.04), and enteral feeding (P=0.02) were independent risk factors for VAP.

Conclusions: A relevant proportion of intubated children develop VAP, which is closely related to invasive procedures. As VAP is associated with increased medical costs and death, multicenter studies are urgently needed to improve the therapeutic approach to VAP and VAP prevention.