title: Ventilator-associated pneumonia: epidemiology and impact on the clinical evolution of ICU patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a major cause of nosocomial infection, its role in the prognosis of patients remains undefined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of VAP on the clinical evolution of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study involving 233 patients on mechanical ventilation (VAP group, n = 64; control group, n = 169). Primary outcomes were time on mechanical ventilation (TMV), time in ICU (TICU), overall length of hospital stay (LHS) and in-ICU mortality. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, microbiological profile, prior use of antibiotics and risk factors for VAP acquisition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Control and VAP group outcomes were, respectively, as follows: median TMV (days), 9 (interquartile range [IQR]: 5-15) and 23 (IQR: 15-37; p < 0.0001); median TICU (days), 12 (IQR: 8-21) and 27 (IQR: 17-42; p < 0.0001); median LHS (days), 33 (IQR: 18-64) and 46 (IQR: 25-90; p = 0.05); and in-ICU mortality, 38% (95% CI: 31-45) and 55% (95% CI: 42-67; p = 0.02). VAP was a predictor of in-ICU mortality (OR = 3.40; 95% CI: 1.54-7.48). TMV (OR = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.05-4.87) and prior use of antibiotics (OR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.04-1.10) were risk factors for VAP. VAP did not affect in-hospital mortality. Acinetobacter spp. was the most common isolate (28%). Inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy was administered in 48% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, there was a high incidence of infection with resistant bacteria and inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy. Long TMV and prior use of antibiotics are risk factors for VAP.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, São Lucas Copacabana Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. pedroaza@gmail.com
authors.forename: Pedro Mendes de Azambuja
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Edgard do
authors.initials: Ed
authors.lastname: Carmo Neto
authors.forename: Luiz Rodrigo de Carneiro
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Marcos Freitas
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Knibel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult