High Mortality and Pathogen Burden of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective ICU Study
Abstract
Background:
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains a critical challenge in intensive care units (ICUs), particularly in settings with limited infection control infrastructure. While global data exist, there is a striking lack of contemporary evidence from northern regions of Saudi Arabia, where healthcare delivery and microbial resistance patterns may differ significantly from metropolitan centers.
Objective:
To assess the incidence, microbiological profile, and outcome predictors of VAP in a resource-limited ICU in Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia—an underreported region in current literature.
Methods:
This retrospective observational study included adult ICU patients diagnosed with VAP between January 2021 and December 2023 at Prince Mutaib Bin Abdulaziz Hospital. Demographic, clinical, and microbiological data were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of ICU mortality.
Results:
Of 270 ICU patients, 70 (26%) developed VAP. The most common pathogens were Acinetobacter baumannii (37.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (21.4%). ICU mortality was 74.3%, with age ≥65 years (OR 3.47) and female sex (OR 8.00) independently associated with death. MDR organisms were identified even in early-onset VAP, challenging traditional classifications.
Conclusion:
This study highlights the high burden of VAP and associated mortality in a northern Saudi ICU, where antimicrobial resistance patterns and resource constraints amplify the clinical risk. The findings call for region-specific infection control strategies and stewardship programs tailored to non-tertiary healthcare settings.
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References
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Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Sirajo Tambuwal, Atheer Almadhi, Hana Felemban, Sereihan Alshammari
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