title: Pulmonary infections in ICU patients without underlying disease on ventilators.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At present, the use of ventilator support is an important part of treatment in ICU patients. However, aside from its well-known advantages, the use of these devices is also associated with complications, the most important of which is pulmonary infection (PI). PI has a high rate of morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of PI in mechanically-ventilated patients and the role that factors, such as age, sex, and duration of intubation, play in this regard.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of PI in mechanically ventilated patients, with no underlying condition which could compromise their immune system. Age, sex, and duration of intubation were assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 16) software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 37 ICU patients on ventilators were evaluated, including 21 males (56.8%) and 16 females (43.2%). The mean age of the patients was 54 ± 19 years (range 19 to 86 years), with a mean age of 52 ± 20 years in men, and 56 ± 18 years in women (P = 0.52). The mean duration of ventilation was 6 ± 4 days (range 2 to 20 days). The mean duration of ventilation was 5 ± 2 days in men, and 6 ± 5 days in women (P = 0.42). A total of 16 patients (43.2%) developed ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP); of whom, 50% were male and 50% female (P = 0.46). Patients who developed a pulmonary infection had a significantly longer duration of ventilation. The mean duration of ventilation was 8 ± 4 days in patients who had developed VAP, while this duration was 4 ± 2 days in the non-affected patients (P = 0.005). Overall, 17 patients died, and 7 of these deaths were attributed to VAP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of VAP in this study was approximately 43%, which is relatively high. In total, the percentage of deaths due to VAP among the patients was 18.91%. Duration of ventilator support was significantly correlated with the prevalence of PI.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghanbarpour
authors.affiliation: Trauma Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saghafinia
authors.affiliation: Students' Research Committee, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramezani Binabaj
authors.affiliation: Anesthesia Group, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Jallal
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Madani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tadressi
authors.affiliation: Anesthesia Group, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Forozanmehr
keywords: Intensive Care Units; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated; Ventilators, Mechanical