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Role of Appropriate Therapy in
Combating Mortality among
the Ventilated Patients
DC01-DC03
Correspondence
M.V Pravin Charles,
Venkateswara Nagar, Pondicherry-605013, India.
Phone: 9952791982, E-mail: dr_mvpravincharles@yahoo.com
Context: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is a nosocomial infection prevalent among the intensive care unit (ICU) patients despite proper infection control practices. The diagnosis of VAP still remains controversial and hence the mortality rate is higher among this group of patients.
Aim: The aim of our study was to identify the antibiotic pattern and the appropriateness of treatment followed in the ICU in relation with the clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) as a tool to diagnose VAP. This was compared with patients who had an inappropriate treatment in comparison to the CPIS and the clinical outcome.
Results:Out of the 18 VAP patients, 12 (66.7%) received appro priate therapy based on the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the causative organism, while 1 (5.5%) received partially inappropriate therapy and 5 (27.8%) received totally inappropriate therapy. Nine of the 18 (50%) VAP patients died, while only 5 of the 58 (8.6%) patients without VAP died. 72.2% patients with VAP received appropriate treatment based on the sensitivity of the isolates. The mortality rate in VAP patients receiving inappropriate therapy was 80%, while in those receiving appropriate therapy the mortality rate was 38.5%. The mortality rate among VAP patients with blood culture positivity was 100%, while it was 43.75% among those with negative blood culture.
Conclusion: The mortality rate among the patients receiving inappropriate therapy is high compared to other group of patients. Hence, a proper evaluation and administration of appropriate antibiotics can curb mortality among the ventilated patients.