STUDY OF MICROBIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF VENTILATOR ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA

Ventilator associated pneumonia is defined as pneumonia occurring more than 48 hrs after endotracheal intubation, during mechanical ventilation or after extubation.VAP developed during the rst 4 days of mechanical ventilation is early onset,usually less severe mostly caused by antibiotic sensitive bacteria's and with better prognosis.[2,3] Whereas late onset VAP develops 5 or more days after the initiation of mechanical ventilation, and is due to multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens and is usually associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Common pathogens causing VAP includes Pseudomonas Spp. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus with varying prevalence.Due to the increased incidence of MDR organisms in intensive care units (ICU),early and correct diagnosis of VAP is mandatory for optimal antibiotic therapy. The present study was conducted on 200 patients with clinically suspected as VAP admitted to intensive care unit. This study will helps to detect pathogens commonly associated in causation of VAP, also to determine their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. This study will also help to decrease the complications associated with VAP in critical care units[4,5].