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The Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in a Tertiary Paediatric Intensive Care Unit-A Retrospective Cohort

Tanya Justus1, Jennie Louise2

  • 1Department of Paediatric Critical Care Medicine, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|April 10, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) is 12.7%. VAP is linked to longer mechanical ventilation, hospital stays, and increased vasoactive medication use.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Epidemiology

Background:

  • Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant concern in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).
  • Understanding VAP incidence and associated factors is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
  • Limited data exists on VAP in South Australian PICUs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of VAP in a South Australian PICU.
  • To identify patient and clinical factors associated with VAP diagnosis.
  • To evaluate the outcomes for children diagnosed with VAP.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of children under 18 ventilated for ≥48 hours in the PICU (2019-2023).
  • Data collected on demographics, clinical factors, VAP diagnosis, and outcomes.
  • Statistical analysis to compare VAP and non-VAP groups.

Main Results:

  • 220 patients analyzed; 12.7% incidence of VAP (13.7 per 1000 ventilator days).
  • VAP patients had longer mechanical ventilation (298.5 vs 119.5 hours), hospital LOS (17 days longer), and ICU LOS (14 days longer).
  • VAP patients showed higher vasoactive medication use (RR 2.37).

Conclusions:

  • The incidence of VAP in this PICU was 12.7%.
  • Clinician-diagnosed VAP correlated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and extended hospital/ICU stays.
  • Increased need for vasoactive medications was observed in VAP patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
centres for disease controlclinician diagnosisincidencepaediatric intensive care unitventilator‐associated pneumonia

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