[Epidemic of pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation in Mérida, Yucatán].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the main epidemiological, clinical, and microbiologic characteristics of an outbreak of ventilator-associated pneumonia at an intensive care unit in Yucatan.


METHODS
An 11-month prospective and observational study was designed to determine incidence, mortality, potential reservoirs, etiologic agents and antibiotic susceptibility patterns.


RESULTS
The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia was 74%. The crude mortality rate was 88% compared to a 19.5% expected-mortality rate. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from 98% of the cultures, of which 46% were susceptible to third generation cephalosporins, 59% to fourth generation cephalosporins, 70% to ciprofloxacin and 100% to imipenem. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from some of the ventilator circuits and the sink.


CONCLUSIONS
The high incidence of pneumonia and associated mortality in our intensive care unit may be attributed to the absence of infection control measures and the high prevalence of multiresistant organisms which is related to antibiotic abuse.
Zaidi
M
M
Departamento de Investigación, Hospital General O'Horan, Mérida, Yucatán, México. mbzaidi@diario1.sureste.com
Martín
G
G
Rosado
R
R
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors