• Maria Francesca Patria, Giovanna Chidini, Ludovica Ughi, Cinzia Montani, Edi Prandi, Carlotta Galeone, Edoardo Calderini, and Susanna Esposito.
• Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
• World J Pediatr. 2013 Nov 1;9(4):365-8.

BackgroundThis study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, risk factors and outcomes associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a European pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).MethodsA total of 451 children who had been mechanically ventilated in the PICU for ≥ 48 hours during a 3-year period were enrolled in this prospective study.ResultsIn comparison with children without VAP, 30 children (6.6%) who developed VAP had a longer PICU stay (P=0.0001) and hospital stay (P=0.0001), and a higher mortality rate (P=0.04). Logistic regression analysis showed that the need for re-intubation (P=0.0001), the presence of tracheostomy (P=0.04), and enteral feeding (P=0.02) were independent risk factors for VAP.ConclusionsA relevant proportion of intubated children develop VAP, which is closely related to invasive procedures. As VAP is associated with increased medical costs and death, multicenter studies are urgently needed to improve the therapeutic approach to VAP and VAP prevention.

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