Comparison study between bacteriological aetiology and outcome of VAT & VAP

Abstract

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a life saving process but it carries risks of respiratory tract infection as ventilator associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) and ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) leading to increase morbidity and duration of mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU). VAT is an intermediate stage between colonization and VAP. Aim of the workTo compare between VAT and VAP as regards microbiological diagnosis and outcome of patients. Subjects and methodsThe current study includes twenty patients admitted to respiratory ICU with respiratory failure developed VAT and VAP after 48h of MV and to evaluate their impact on patient’s outcome. ResultsKlebsiella was the commonest organism in both groups and that duration of stay on MV was observed in VAT patients and most of VAT patients progressed to VAP. ConclusionFrom the study we concluded that VAT infection is as severe as VAP and it needs more attention to prevent its presence as, once present, it usually progress to VAP increasing mortality rate in ICU.