883Is the Patient the Problem? A look at baseline characteristics of patients with Infectious Ventilator Associated Events

Background. Ventilator associated events (VAEs) are associated with increased hospital length of stay, duration of ventilation, costs and mortality. VAEs exist along a continuum ranging from ventilator associated complications (VAC) to infectious ventilator associated complications (IVAC) to ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). Because these events occur on ventilators, most research looks to environment or pathogen factors for prevention and intervention. We sought to examine host characteristics and compare patients with VAC, IVAC and VAP in terms of demographics and severity of illness. Methods. This study was performed as a retrospective chart review. Eligible patients were age >18 with a ventilator associated event as defined by Centers for Disease Control/National Health Surveillance Network definition, and research authorization on file with our institution. Case finding was done via an infection control database maintained at our institution which identifies all VAEs. VAEs were then categorized as VAC, IVAC or VAP by one of the investigators via chart review. Demographic data, including Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) score calculated 1 and 24 hours after intensive care unit admission abstracted using an electronic data mart maintained on all intensive care patients. Results. In the study period, 122 VAC, 31 IVAC and 14 VAP were identified. Demographic data characteristics were not significantly different between groups including age (means in years, VAP = 51.8, IVAC = 57.6, VAC = 56.3, p = 0.41), gender (% male, VAP = 64.3%, IVAC = 71.9%, VAC = 69.7%, p = 0.87), or BMI (vac = 30.4, IVAC = 31.0, VAP = 29.5). APACHE scores were similarly no different at 1 hour (VAC = 58.0, IVAC = 62.3, VAP = 56.6, p = 0.69) or 24 hours (VAC = 78.0, IVAC = 73.6, VAP = 86.0, p = 0.43). Sensitivity analyses treating variables as dichotomous (VAC vs all others) similarly showed no difference. Conclusion. Although limited by the low baseline rate of VAE at our institution and thus small sample size, these data indicate that host factors in terms of acute physiology or demographics are not major determinants of which patient will progress to VAP. Pathogen and environment factors should be focus of further efforts for VAC detection and prevention. Disclosures. All authors: No reported disclosures.