Volume : 12, Issue : 06, June – 2025
Title:
EVALUATION OF VENTILATOR-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA (VAP) INCIDENCE AND ITS IMPACT ON LENGTH OF STAY AND MORTALITY IN PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENTS: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY
Authors :
Fatimah Alkhamis , Anwar Alkhalifah , Ibrahim abdulmonem almajed , Fatimah Sami Alkhalifah, Ekram Sami Alkhalifah , Yahya Zohair M Murad
Abstract :
Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common and severe healthcare-associated infections in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), contributing significantly to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the incidence of VAP and assess its impact on length of stay (LOS) and mortality among patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over a 12-month period at a tertiary hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. All intubated children (aged 1 month to 14 years) who required mechanical ventilation for >48 hours were included. VAP was diagnosed based on CDC/NHSN surveillance criteria. Demographic data, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of PICU stay, and clinical outcomes were recorded.
Results: Out of 174 mechanically ventilated patients, 42 (24.1%) developed VAP. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation among VAP patients was significantly longer (15.2 ± 4.1 days) compared to non-VAP patients (7.6 ± 2.3 days, p<0.001). The average PICU stay was 19.6 ± 5.3 days for VAP patients versus 9.2 ± 3.1 days for those without VAP (p<0.001). The overall mortality rate among VAP patients was 28.6% compared to 11.3% in the non-VAP group.
Conclusion: VAP remains a significant complication among mechanically ventilated pediatric patients, leading to prolonged ventilation, increased PICU stay, and higher mortality. Early detection, adherence to infection control protocols, and VAP prevention bundles are essential to improve outcomes in PICUs.
Cite This Article:
Please cite this article in press Fatimah Alkhamis et al., Evaluation Of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (Vap) Incidence And Its Impact On Length Of Stay And Mortality In Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Prospective Observational Study, Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2025; 12(07).
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