OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients admitted in an intensive care unit (ICU) for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

METHODSThe clinical data of 143 patients admitted in the ICU at our center between January, 2014 and June, 2015 were reviewed. The patients with VAP and those without VAP were analyzed for risk factors of VAP in the setting of an ICU for pulmonary TB and compared for the duration of ventilation and hospital stay.

RESULTSThe patients with pulmonary TB showed a significantly higher incidence of VAP in the ICU than those without TB. Univariate analysis suggested that the occurrence of VAP was significantly correlated with the duration of mechanical ventilation, invasive examination, pulmonary tuberculosis, lung structure changes, use of multiple antibiotics, diabetes, tracheal incision, indwelling gastric tube, APACHE II score, and coma (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pulmonary TB, duration of mechanical ventilation, APACHE II score, invasive operation, and use of multiple antibiotics were independent risk factors for VAP (P<0.05). The patients who developed VAP had a prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients admitted in tuberculosis ICU are exposed to a high risk of VAP with a high mortality rate as the result of multiple interacting risk factors. Pulmonary TB, prolonged mechanical ventilation, an APACHE II score >15, invasive operation, and use of multiple antibiotics are all independent risk factors for VAP in tuberculosis ICU.