Malhotra R, Horng H, Bonne S, Sifri Z, Glass NE. Evaluating antibiotic therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by gram-negative bacilli.
Surg Open Sci 2023;
16:64-67. [PMID:
37789948 PMCID:
PMC10543183 DOI:
10.1016/j.sopen.2023.09.014]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction
Ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAPs) are a complication of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) that increase length of stay, morbidity, and mortality. While identifying and treating infections early is paramount to improving patient outcomes, more and more data demonstrate limited courses of antibiotics improve outcomes. Prolonged (10-14 day) courses of antibiotics have remained the standard of care for pneumonia due to gram-negative bacilli (GNR). We aimed to review our GNR VAPs to assess risk factors for recurrent GNR infections.
Methods
We reviewed trauma patients who developed VAP from 02/2019 through 05/2022. Demographics, injury characteristics, and outcomes were reviewed with a focus on pneumonia details including the cultured pathogen(s), antibiotic(s) used, treatment duration, and presence of recurrent infections. We then compared single episode VAPs to multiple episode VAPs among patients infected by GNRs.
Results
Eleven of the fifty trauma patients admitted to the ICU suffered a VAP caused by a GNR. Of these eleven patients, six experienced a recurrent infection, four of which were caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and two of which were caused by Enterobacter aerogenes. Among the patients who received ten days of antibiotic treatment, half suffered a recurrence. Although, there was no difference in the microbiology or antibiotic duration between the recurrences and single episodes.
Conclusion
Despite prolonged use of antibiotics, we found that the risk of recurrent or persistent infections was high among patients with VAP due to GNB. Further study is needed to determine optimal treatment to minimize the risk of these recurrences.
Key message
Ventilator-associated pneumonia due to gram-negative bacilli is a rare but high morbidity complication in intensive care units. Despite prolonged duration of therapy, these infections still appear to account for many recurrent infections and further study into optimal therapy is warranted.
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