Ventilator-associated pneumonia: a review.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent intensive-care-unit (ICU)-acquired infection, with an incidence ranging from 6 to 52% [1,2,3,4]. Several studies have shown that critically ill patients are at high risk for getting such nosocomial infections [3,4]. VAP continues to be a major cause of morbidity, mortality and increased financial burden in ICUs [5,6,7,8]. Over the years there has been a significant advance in our understanding of ventilator associated pneumonia. This article reviews the various aspects of VAP such as definition, risk factors, etiological agents, diagnosis, treatment and prevention with emphasis on the recent advances.
Joseph
Noyal Mariya
NM
Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India. noyaljoseph@yahoo.com
Sistla
Sujatha
S
Dutta
Tarun Kumar
TK
Badhe
Ashok Shankar
AS
Parija
Subhash Chandra
SC
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors