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A Multicentered Prospective Analysis of Diagnosis, Risk Factors, and Outcomes Associated With Pediatric Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia*

Objective: To assess risk factors and outcomes associated with pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia. Design: Multicentered prospective observational cohort. Setting: Children’s hospitals in the United States. Patients: Mechanically ventilated patients less than 18 years old. Measurements and Main Results: Prospective evaluation of the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia along with evaluation of diagnostic criterion for pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia. The prevalence of pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia was 5.2% (n = 2,082), for a rate of 7.1/1,000 ventilator days. Patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia had a longer unadjusted ICU length of stay (p < 0.0001) and increased length of mechanical ventilation by more than 11 days (p < 0.0001). After adjustment for patient factors, ICU length of stay (p = 0.03) and mechanical ventilation days (p = 0.001) remained significant. Patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia were almost three times more likely to die (p = 0.007). Independent risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia were reintubation and part-time ventilation. Conclusions: Pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia is common in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients. These patients have longer length of stay, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, and increased risk for mortality.