THE UNRELENTING CHALLENGE OF VENTILATOR- ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA IN ICU SETTINGS

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common and serious infections among critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation. It signicantly increases ICU morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay, posing ongoing challenges in clinical practice. Aims And Objectives: To determine the incidence, risk factors, causative organisms, antibiotic sensitivity patterns, and clinical outcomes associated with VAP in ICU patients. Method: This retrospective observational study was conducted on a total number of 200 mechanically ventilated patients, intubated for more than 48 hours. VAP diagnosis was based on CDC/NHSN guidelines. Patient data including demographics, clinicalrisk factors, microbiological proles, and outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The incidence of VAP was 19% (38 out of 200 patients). The most common risk factors identied were prolonged ventilation (>7 days), supine positioning, reintubation, and prolonged sedation. Klebsiella pneumoniae (34%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (29%) were the predominant pathogens, exhibiting high rates of multidrug resistance. The average ICU stay in VAP patients was 17.5 ± 5.3 days compared to 10.3 ± 3.8 days in non-VAP cases. ICU mortality among VAP patients was 34.2%. Conclusion: VAP remains a persistent threat in ICU settings, contributing to increased mortality and prolonged ICU stays. Targeted infection control measures, timely microbiological surveillance, and strict adherence to ventilator bundles are essential to mitigate this ongoing challenge