Introduction:

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common infection acquired in hospitals, after bloodstream infection, and is associated with high mortality and involves a high impact on the economic burden of medical care. of these patients.

Objective:

To identify risk factors for VAP in critically-ill children.

Materials and Methods:

This was a case-control study carried out at the “Dr. Agustín Zubillaga” University Hospital (Barquisimeto, Lara State, Venezuela), between 2017 and 2019. We used binary logistic regression.

Results:

A total of 172 mechanically ventilated children were included in the analysis. Using a binary logistic regression model, the following were identified as independent predictors for the development of VAP: Fluid overload (OR=5.537; 95% CI: 1.903 - 16.113; p = 0.002), gastric acidity suppression (OR=5.360; 95% CI: 1.584 - 18.136; p = 0.007), enteral nutrition (OR=2.354; 95% CI: 1.079 - 5.136; p = 0.032), reintubation (OR=4.423; 95% CI: 1.821 - 10.743; p = 0.001) and receiving more than two transfusions of red blood cells (OR=2.267; 95% CI: 1.002 - 5.127; p = 0.049). In addition, the cases with VAP presented longer length-of-stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) (7.5 ± 3.5 vs. 10.8 ± 4.6 days; p < 0.0001), a longer total duration of mechanical ventilation (4.4 ± 2.3 vs. 7.3 ± 3.8; p < 0.0001) and higher mortality in the ICU (10.9% vs. 34.9%; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Fluid overload, the use of gastric acidity suppressants, enteral nutrition, reintubation and receiving more than two red blood cell transfusions are risk factors for developing VAP.

        · resumo em Espanhol     · texto em Espanhol     · Espanhol ( pdf )