Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria causing ventilator-associated pneumonia in a tertiary care hospital: one year prospective study

Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common infection diagnosed in intensive care units (ICUs). VAP is defined as pneumonia that occurs 48 hours or more after endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy, caused by infectious agents not present or incubating at the time mechanical ventilation was started. 1 It can be of two types. Early-onset VAP, defined as occurring within the first 4 days of mechanical ventilation, usually carries a better prognosis, and is more likely to be caused by antibiotic sensitive bacteria. Late onset VAP occuring 5 days or more after mechanical ventilation is more likely to be caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens, and is associated with increased patient mortality and morbidity. 2 The specific microbial causes of VAP are many and varied. Gram negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp and enteric gram negative rods are implicated in 55-85% of VAP cases. High rates of ABSTRACT