title: [The incidence and risk factors of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with severe traumatic brain injury].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with severe traumatic brain injury are at a risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, etiology, risk factors for development of ventilator-associated pneumonia and outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was done in 72 patients with severe traumatic brain injury, who required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ventilator-associated pneumonia was found in 31 of 72 (43.06%) patients with severe traumatic brain injury. The risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia were: prolonged mechanical ventilation (12.42 vs 4.34 days, p < 0.001), longer stay at intensive care unit (17 vs 5 days, p < 0.001) and chest injury (51.61 vs 19.51%, p < 0.009) compared to patients without ventilator-associated pneumonia. The mortality rate in the patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia was higher (38.71 vs 21.95%, p = 0.12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with severe traumatic brain injury led to the increased morbidity due to the prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer stay at intensive care unit and chest injury, but had no effect on mortality.
authors.affiliation: Centar za anesteziju i reanimaciju, Klinicki centar Nis. prof.marjanovic@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marjanović
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Ljubinka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Velicković
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marjanović
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors