Ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation: description, risk factors for mortality, and performance of the SOFA score / Pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica em pacientes em ventilação mecânica prolongada: descrição, fatores de risco associados à mortalidade e desempenho do escore SOFA

ABSTRACT Objective: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious complication of mechanical ventilation (MV). However, data on VAP in patients on prolonged MV (PMV) are scarce. We aimed to describe the characteristics of VAP patients on PMV and to identify factors associated with mortality. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study including VAP patients on PMV. We recorded baseline characteristics, as well as 30-day and 90-day mortality rates. Variables associated with mortality were determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression model. Results: We identified 80 episodes of VAP in 62 subjects on PMV. The medians for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, SOFA score, and days on MV were, respectively, 69.5 years, 5, 4, and 56 days. Episodes of VAP occurred between days 21 and 50 of MV in 28 patients (45.2%) and, by day 90 of MV, in 48 patients (77.4%). The 30-day and 90-day mortality rates were 30.0% and 63.7%, respectively. There were associations of 30-day mortality with the SOFA score (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.12-1.52; p < 0.001) and use of vasoactive agents (HR = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.2-12.9; p = 0.02), whereas 90-day mortality was associated with age (HR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00-1.05; p = 0.003), SOFA score (HR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07-1.34; p = 0.001), use of vasoactive agents (HR = 4.07; 95% CI: 1.93-8.55; p < 0.001), and COPD (HR = 3.35; 95% CI: 1.71-6.60; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Mortality rates in VAP patients on PMV are considerably high. The onset of VAP can occur various days after MV initiation. The SOFA score is useful for predicting fatal outcomes. The factors associated with mortality could help guide therapeutic decisions and determine prognosis.

RESUMO Objetivo: A pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica (PAVM) é uma séria complicação da ventilação mecânica (VM). Entretanto, dados sobre PAVM em pacientes em VM prolongada (VMP) são escassos. Nosso objetivo foi descrever as características de pacientes com PAVM em VMP e identificar fatores associados à mortalidade. Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo incluindo pacientes com PAVM em VMP. Foram registradas características basais, bem como as taxas de mortalidade em 30 e 90 dias. As variáveis associadas à mortalidade foram determinadas por meio da análise de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meier e do modelo de regressão de Cox. Resultados: Foram identificados 80 episódios de PAVM em 62 indivíduos em VMP. As medianas de idade, índice de comorbidade de Charlson, pontuação no SOFA, e dias em VM foram, respectivamente, de 69,5 anos, 5, 4 e 56 dias. Os episódios de PAVM ocorreram entre o 21º e o 50º dia de VM em 28 pacientes (45,2%) e até o 90º dia de VM em 48 pacientes (77,4%). As taxas de mortalidade em 30 e 90 dias foram de 30,0% e 63,7%, respectivamente. A mortalidade em 30 dias associou-se a pontuação no SOFA (razão de risco [RR] = 1,30; IC95%: 1,12-1,52; p < 0,001) e uso de drogas vasoativas (RR = 4,0; IC95%: 1,2-12,9; p = 0,02), enquanto a mortalidade em 90 dias associou-se a idade (RR = 1,03; IC95%: 1,00-1,05; p = 0,003), pontuação no SOFA (RR = 1,20; IC95%: 1,07-1,34; p = 0,001), uso de drogas vasoativas (RR = 4,07; IC95%: 1,93-8,55; p < 0,001) e DPOC (RR = 3,35; IC95%: 1,71-6,60; p < 0,001). Conclusões: As taxas de mortalidade em pacientes com PAVM em VMP são consideravelmente altas. O início da PAVM pode ocorrer vários dias após a instituição da VM. O escore SOFA é útil para predição de desfechos fatais. Os fatores associados à mortalidade podem ajudar a orientar as decisões terapêuticas e a determinar o prognóstico.

Risk factors for early-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients

This study aimed to investigate the risk factors related to ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. From January 2011 to December 2015, a single-center retrospective study including 200 SAH patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) ≥48 h was performed. The clinical data of these patients were collected and analyzed. The age range of the patients were 41-63 and 72 (36%) were male. The Glasgow coma scale score range was 5-15 and the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II range was 31-52. One hundred and forty-eight (74%) patients had a World Federation of Neurosurgeons (WNFS) score ≥III. Aneurysm was secured with an endovascular coiling procedure in 168 (84%) patients and 94 (47%) patients presented VAP. Male gender (OR=2.25, 95%CI=1.15-4.45), use of mannitol (OR=3.02, 95%CI=1.53-5.94) and enteral feeding above 20 kcal·kg−1·day−1 (OR=2.90, 95%CI=1.26-6.67) after day 7 were independent factors for VAP. Patients with early-onset VAP had a longer duration of sedation (P=0.03), MV (P=0.001) and ICU length of stay (P=0.003) and a worse Glasgow Outcome Scale score (P<0.001), but did not have a higher death rate.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia: the influence of bacterial resistance, prescription errors, and de-escalation of antimicrobial therapy on mortality rates

Abstract Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the most prevalent nosocomial infection in intensive care units and is associated with high mortality rates (14–70%). Aim This study evaluated factors influencing mortality of patients with Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), including bacterial resistance, prescription errors, and de-escalation of antibiotic therapy. Methods This retrospective study included 120 cases of Ventilator-associated pneumonia admitted to the adult adult intensive care unit of the Federal University of Uberlândia. The chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables. Student's t-test was used for quantitative variables and multiple logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors of mortality. Findings De-escalation of antibiotic therapy and resistant bacteria did not influence mortality. Mortality was 4 times and 3 times higher, respectively, in patients who received an inappropriate antibiotic loading dose and in patients whose antibiotic dose was not adjusted for renal function. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the incorrect adjustment for renal function was the only independent factor associated with increased mortality. Conclusion Prescription errors influenced mortality of patients with Ventilator-associated pneumonia, underscoring the challenge of proper Ventilator-associated pneumonia treatment, which requires continuous reevaluation to ensure that clinical response to therapy meets expectations.

Effect of heat and moisture exchangers on the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains one of the major causes of infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with the length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. We compared the frequency of VAP 10 months prior to (pre-intervention group) and 13 months after (post-intervention group) initiation of the use of a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) filter. This is a study with prospective before-and-after design performed in the ICU in a tertiary university hospital. Three hundred and fourteen patients were admitted to the ICU under mechanical ventilation, 168 of whom were included in group HH (heated humidifier) and 146 in group HME. The frequency of VAP per 1000 ventilator-days was similar for both the HH and HME groups (18.7 vs 17.4, respectively; P = 0.97). Duration of mechanical ventilation (11 vs 12 days, respectively; P = 0.48) and length of ICU stay (11 vs 12 days, respectively; P = 0.39) did not differ between the HH and HME groups. The chance of developing VAP was higher in patients with a longer ICU stay and longer duration of mechanical ventilation. This finding was similar when adjusted for the use of HME. The use of HME in intensive care did not reduce the incidence of VAP, the duration of mechanical ventilation, or the length of stay in the ICU in the study population.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in an adult clinical-surgical intensive care unit of a Brazilian university hospital: incidence, risk factors, etiology, and antibiotic resistance

The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics, etiology, and resistance to antimicrobial agents, among patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). A case study vs. patients control under mechanical ventilation and hospitalized into clinical-surgical adults ICU of HC-UFU was performed from March/2005 to March/2006. Patients under ventilation for over 48 h were included in the study including 84 with diagnosis of VAP, and 191 without VAP (control group). Laboratory diagnosis was carried out through quantitative microbiological evaluation of tracheal aspirate. The identification of pathogens was performed by classical microbiological tests, and the antibiotics sensitivity spectrum was determined through the CLSI technique. VAP incidence rate over 1,000 days of ventilation was 24.59. The mean (± SD) duration of mechanical ventilation prior to VAP diagnosis was 23.2 ± 17.2 days. By multivariate analysis the risk factors predisposing for VAP were: mechanical ventilation time and mechanical ventilation > seven days, tracheostomy and use of > three antibiotics. Mortality rate was high (32.1 percent) but lower than that of the control group (46.5 percent). Major pathogens were identified in most of patients (95.2 percent) and included: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (29 percent), Staphylococcus aureus (26 percent), Enterobacter/Klebsiella/Serratia (19 percent) and Acinetobacter spp. (18 percent), with expressive frequencies of P. aeruginosa (52 percent), S. aureus (65.4 percent) and Enterobacteriaceae (43.7 percent) resistant to imipenem, oxacillin and 3/4 generation cephalosporins, respectively. In conclusion, our observation showed VAPs caused by multiresistant microorganisms, the prescription of > three antibiotics, and mortality with unacceptably high rates. The practice of de-escalation therapy appears to be urgently needed in order to improve the situation.

A utilidade da broncofibroscopia em pacientes submetidos à ventilação mecânica em uma unidade de terapia intensiva de um hospital universitário. Análise de 109 exames. / Utility of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in ventilated patients in a unit care intensive of university hospital. Analysis of 109 procedures.

Introdução: a pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica (PAVM) contribui para a morbi-mortalidade e para os custos relacionados aos cuidados de pacientes criticamente enfermos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o impacto e a utilidade clínica da broncofibroscopia (BFC) com lavado broncoalveolar (LBA) na evolução clínica para pacientes com PAVM. Materiais e métodos: os resultados de 109 exames broncoscópicos foram retrospectivamente analisados. Entre 1 de Janeiro e 31 de dezembro de 2001, oitenta e nove pacientes em VM e suspeita clínica de PAVM internados na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva do Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro foram submetidos a BFC com LBA. As amostras coletadas foram submetidas à cultura quantitativa. Considerou-se pneumonia quando havia crescimento superior a 10 4 e 10 5 UFC/ml no LBA e aspirado traqueal, respectivamente. Foram avaliados a evolução clínica e o número de casos cuja antibioticoterapia foi modificada como consequência do resultado da cultura, além da mortalidade. Resultados: Pseudomas aeruginosa (21/61), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (9/61) e em 69% (61/88) episódios suspeitos de PAVM. Os resultados do LBA propiciaram troca na antibioticoterapia empírica em 52% (46/88) casos. A mortalidade total foi de 62,9% (56/89). Conclusão: o diagnóstico etiológico da PAVM obtido através da BFC com LBA modificou a conduta em um significativo número de casos.

Introduction: ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) contributes to the morbidity, mortality, and costs of caring for critically ill patients. Objective: evaluate clinical utility of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for patients with VAP. Materials and methods: the results of 109 bronchoscopic procedures were studied. Between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2001 eight nine mechanically ventilated patients with clinical suspicion of VAP in the Intensive Care Unit of Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro were underwent to a bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Samples collected were cultured quantitatively. Pneumonia was considered if the growth of bacteria was > 10 4 UFC/ml in BAL or > 10 UFC/ml in tracheal aspiration. Outcome variables studied included the change of the antibiotic because the result of culture were sisolated more frequently from patients with VAP. Bacterial pneumonia was diagnosed in 69% (61/88) suspected VAP episodes. The antibiotic prescription was changed in 52% (46/88) cases because the BAL results. Overall mortality was 63%. Conclusion: the etiologic diagnosis of VAP obtained through bronchoscopy with modified the antibiotic prescription in a significant number of cases.