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CDC's ventilator-associated conditions definitions are objective, predicative

SAN DIEGO — The CDC’s proposed definitions of a ventilator-associated condition accurately and efficiently identified pediatric patients, according to data presented at the 2014 AAP National Conference and Exhibition.

Siriporn, Phongjitsiri, MD, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and colleagues applied the CDC’s definition of a ventilator-associated condition (VAC) to a clinical decision support database of 606 patients to identify patients with VAC during a one-year period. VAC was defined as a sustained increase in ventilator setting following a period of stable or decreased support. Patients identified to have VAC were further assessed for infection-related ventilator-associated complication (IVAC).

Approximately 14.5% of patients had VAC and 8.1% had IVAC. Of those with IVAC, 55% had pneumonia, 28.6% had possible pneumonia and 16.3% had an undetermined infection.

Patients with VAC had significantly more ventilator, ICU and hospital days and increased mortality than those without VAC.

VAC was an independent predictor of hospital mortality (OR=3.13; 95% CI, 1.63-6.15), according to multivariate logistic regression analysis.

“The proposed definitions for VAC and other associated complications are highly objective, amenable to automated surveillance and good predictors of outcomes. Rather than focusing only on ventilator-associated pneumonia, quality improvement initiatives should focus on broader complications in general,” the researchers wrote.

For more information:

Phongjitsiri S. Abstract #11. Presented at: 2014 AAP National Conference and Exhibition; Oct. 11-14; San Diego.

Disclosure: Phongjitsiri reports no relevant financial disclosures.