Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia with Dr. Sam Davila
Mar 20, 2023
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Dr. Sam Davila, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases and cardiac critical care, discusses ventilator-associated pneumonia. He explores the diagnosis and treatment of VAP, considerations for empiric therapy, and strategies for preventing and managing VAP.
Clinical judgment is crucial in diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia, relying on a combination of clinical factors rather than just lab tests.
Tailoring empiric therapy based on individual risk factors and past microbiological history can guide appropriate treatment for ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Deep dives
Pay Attention to the Clinical Diagnosis
When it comes to hospital-acquired pneumonia, it is crucial to pay attention to what is happening at the bedside and put all the pieces together for an accurate clinical diagnosis. This involves looking for fever, inflammation, respiratory symptoms or pathology, changes in lung mechanics, and infectious markers. The ultimate diagnosis of pneumonia relies on the combination of these factors, and it is important to use clinical judgment rather than relying solely on lab tests or cultures.
Consider the Patient's History and Risk Factors
When determining the potential pathogens causing ventilator-associated pneumonia, it is crucial to consider the patient's clinical history and risk factors. Patients with chronic medical complexity, immunocompromised individuals, and those with previous infections or chronic lung diseases may have unique pathogens to consider. Tailoring empiric therapy based on the patient's individual risk factors and past microbiological history can help guide appropriate treatment.
Duration of Antibiotic Therapy
The duration of antibiotic therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia varies based on the type and severity of the infection. Generally, tracheitis is treated for five days, while pneumonia is treated for seven days, unless there are complications such as lung abscess or necrotizing pneumonia. It is important to assess the patient's clinical progress, inflammatory markers, and response to therapy to determine if treatment should be modified or discontinued.
When to Involve an Infectious Disease Specialist
Involving an infectious disease specialist can be helpful in certain cases, such as neonatal pneumonia with a complex differential diagnosis, pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts, patients with complicated pneumonia, or those with recurrent infections and specific microbial susceptibilities. The expertise of an infectious disease specialist can aid in guiding appropriate therapy, considering atypical pathogens, and optimizing treatment strategies for complex cases.
Samuel Davila, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics here at UT Southwestern. He completed both his pediatric infectious disease and critical care fellowships at Washington University at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He now is a practicing pediatric infectious disease specialist and intensivist at the UTSW/ Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. His professional and research interests include cardiovascular infections, cardiac ECMO, and post heart transplant infections. I spend time doing handshake stewardship in the ICUs and committee work for hospital acquired conditions and infection prevention.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this podcast, listeners should be able to:
Define ventilator-associated conditions and infection-related ventilator-associated complications (IVAC).
Recall the clinical characteristics and laboratory tests required to diagnose ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
Differentiate VAP from tracheitis.
Recall the common or worrisome pathogens associated with VAP.
Recall principles guiding empiric antibiotic selection for a patient with suspected VAP.
Recognize the importance of antimicrobial stewardship in management of VAP and develop a strategy to limit unnecessary antibiotics (duration of therapy, strategies for narrowing coverage or discontinuing antibiotics if other diagnosis is more likely).
Recognize when consultation with infectious disease is recommended in the management of VAP.
References:
Willson DF, Hoot M, Khemani R, Carrol C, Kirby A, Schwarz A, Gedeit R, Nett ST, Erickson S, Flori H, Hays S, Hall M; Ventilator-Associated INfection (VAIN) Investigators and the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigator’s (PALISI) Network. Pediatric Ventilator-Associated Infections: The Ventilator-Associated INfection Study. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2017 Jan;18(1):e24-e34. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000001001. PMID: 27828898.
Spalding MC, Cripps MW, Minshall CT. Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: New Definitions. Crit Care Clin. 2017 Apr;33(2):277-292. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2016.12.009. Epub 2017 Jan 18. PMID: 28284295; PMCID: PMC7127414.
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Thank you for listening to this episode of PedsCrit. Please remember that all content during this episode is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used as medical advice. The views expressed during this episode by hosts and our guests are their own and do not reflect the official position of their institutions. If you have any comments, suggestions, or feedback-you can email us at pedscritpodcast@gmail.com. Check out http://www.pedscrit.comfor detailed show notes. And visit @critpeds on twitter and @pedscrit on instagram for real time show updates.
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