title: Ventilator-associated pneumonia after pediatric cardiac surgery in southern Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency, risk factors, associated pathogens, and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) after pediatric cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective review of the medical records of patients younger than 18 years with congenital heart disease (CHD) who underwent cardiac surgery from January 2005 to December 2007. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: with and without VAP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 100 patients, 13% acquired VAP. Most patients (85%) who developed VAP were infants younger than 1 year. Patients with complex CHD were more likely to develop VAP than patients with simple CHD (chi(2) = 7.69; p < 0.03). Two independent and modifiable risk factors were identified: prolonged use of mechanical ventilation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 15.196; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.158-107.2) and prolonged use of a central venous catheter (AOR, 7.342; 95% CI, 1.054-51.140). The cardiopulmonary bypass time and duration of chest tube drainage were not risk factors. The development of VAP increased pediatric intensive care unit duration of stay (p < 0.006), duration of hospital stay (p < 0.001), and mortality rate (p < 0.001). Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were the most common pathogens isolated from endotracheal aspirate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VAP is common after congenital heart surgery. Physicians must pay special attention to infants with complex CHD because they are at high risk for the development of VAP after congenital heart surgery. Shortening the duration of mechanical ventilation and central venous catheter placement are critical factors for reducing the risk for VAP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Wan
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Po-Yen
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yung-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jun-Yen
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Susan Shin-Jung
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kai-Sheng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Yung-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Luo-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome