Predicting ventilator-associated pneumonia in elderly patients requiring mechanical ventilation through the detection in tracheal aspirates.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the clinical utility of tracheal aspirates α-amylase (AM), pepsin, and lipid-laden macrophage index (LLMI) in the early diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in elderly patients on mechanical ventilation.

Methods: Within 96 hours of tracheal intubation, tracheal aspirate specimens were collected from elderly patients on mechanical ventilation; AM, pepsin, and LLMI were detected, and we analyzed the potential of each index individually and in combination in diagnosing VAP.

Results: Patients with VAP had significantly higher levels of AM, pepsin, and LLMI compared to those without VAP ( < 0.