Ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with cancer: Impact of multidrug resistant bacteria

Patricia Cornejo-Juárez1, Ivan González-Oros2, Paola Mota-Castañeda2

  • 1Infectious Diseases Department, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City 14080, Mexico. patcornejo@yahoo.com.

Abstract

Insights

In cancer patients requiring mechanical ventilation, longer ICU stays increased the risk of ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP). Multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) VAP did not significantly increase 60-day mortality in this study.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Oncology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cancer patients on mechanical ventilation (MV) face high risks of respiratory failure.
  • Multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) pose a significant challenge in intensive care units (ICUs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify risk factors for ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) in cancer patients.
  • To assess the impact of MDRB on VAP outcomes in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of ICU patients requiring MV ≥ 48 hours.
  • Classification based on VAP development and pathogen identification, including MDRB.
  • Analysis of clinical evolution and 60-day mortality.

Main Results:

  • VAP occurred in 12.2% of patients; Gram-negative bacteria were most common.
  • Increased length of ICU stay was the only significant risk factor for VAP (OR = 1.1).
  • No significant difference in 60-day mortality was observed between VAP and non-VAP groups, or between MDRB and non-MDRB VAP cases.

Conclusions:

  • Gram-negative bacteria are prevalent in VAP, guiding empiric antibiotic therapy.
  • In this cohort, MDRB VAP was not associated with increased 60-day mortality.
  • Length of ICU stay is a critical factor for VAP prevention in cancer patients.

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