Introduction:

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is included among healthcare-associated infections, nosocomial infections, and hospital-acquired infections. It is common in critical patients and can occur in 20 to 25% of those with invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. It represents 15-20% of in-hospital infections.

General objective:

To determine the prevalence of VAP in adult patients admitted to intensive care at the Rigoberto Caballero Police Hospital, Asuncion, during 2024. The specific objectives were to detail the clinical characteristics of the patients and describe the germs involved.

Methodology:

An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective design with non-probabilistic sampling of consecutive cases was applied. Patients older than 18 years old admitted with mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours and with specific clinical, radiological, and microbiological criteria for VAP were included.

Results:

Out of 60 patients admitted to the intensive care unit, 55% were women, with a mean age of 62 ±17 years. Intubation was required in 71.66%. The prevalence of VAP was 31.66%. In 5%, germs were isolated, the most frequent being: Acinetobacter baumannii, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens. Overall mortality was 25%, of which 11.66% corresponded to patients with VAP.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of VAP was 31.66%, with a mortality of 36.84% in affected patients. The most frequent germs were Acinetobacter baumannii, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens.

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