Mortality due to ventilator-associated pneumonia: Impact of medical versus surgical ICU admittance status

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to compare the prognosis of medical versus surgical patients developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Materials and Methods: An observational cohort study included 125 consecutive patients exhibiting VAP. Incidence of death occurred at two different times: during intensive care unit (ICU) stay and during hospital stay. Results: Eighty-seven patients were included in the medical group and 38 in the surgical group. On ICU admission and at the time of VAP onset, most collected data, such as demographic parameters, severity of underlying diseases, and current illness, risk factors for VAP development and VAP characteristics were similar in the two groups. Mortality rates during ICU and hospital stays were not significantly different in medical (49%, 56%) and surgical (55%, 61%) groups. In multivariate logistic regression model adjusting for main factors of VAP mortality, surgical admittance status demonstrated no significant impact on mortality assessed during ICU stay (AOR = 1.6; 0.6 - 4.3 CI) and during hospital stay (AOR = 1.6; 0.6 - 4.2 CI). Conclusions: In this series, after adjustment for mortality confounding factors, medical versus surgical admittance status was not a significant determinant of VAP mortality. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.