Antimicrobial resistance patterns and clinical outcomes in ventilator-associated pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) poses a major challenge in ICUs due to its high morbidity, mortality, and rising antimicrobial resistance. This observational study assessed microbial isolates, resistance patterns, and outcomes in 321 VAP cases out of 472 ventilated patients in a tertiary care hospital. <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> complex (33.33%) was the most common pathogen, with 97.01% showing multidrug resistance. The overall mortality rate among VAP patients was 45.79%. These findings highlight the urgent need for effective antibiotic stewardship and infection control strategies in ICU settings.