Ventilator-associated tracheitis in children: Does antibiotic duration matter?

Pranita D. Tamma, Alison E. Turnbull, Aaron M. Milstone, Christoph U. Lehmann, Emily R.M. Sydnor, Sara E. Cosgrove

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. The optimal duration of antibiotic therapy for ventilator-associated tracheitis (VAT) has not been defined, which may result in unnecessarily prolonged courses of antibiotics. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether prolonged-course (≥7 days in duration) therapy for VAT was more protective against progression to hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), compared with short-course antibiotics (<7 days in duration). The secondary objective was to determine whether prolonged-course therapy was more likely to result in the acquisition of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) compared with short-course therapy. Methods .We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children ≤18 years of age hospitalized in the intensive care unit and intubated for ≥48 h from January 2007 through December 2009 who received antibiotic therapy for VAT. Results .Of the 1616 patients intubated for at least 48 h, 150 received antibiotics for clinician-suspected VAT, although only 118 of these patients met VAT criteria. Prolonged-course antibiotics were not protective against subsequent development of HAP or VAP (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-2.91). Factors associated with subsequent MDRO colonization or infection included prolonged-course antibiotic therapy (HR, 5.15; 95% CI, 1.54-7.19), receipt of combination antibiotic therapy (HR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.54-6.82), and days of hospital exposure prior to completing antibiotic therapy (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.04-1.12). Conclusion s.A prolonged course of antibiotics for VAT does not appear to protect against progression to HAP or VAP compared with short-course therapy. Furthermore, prolonged antibiotic courses were associated with a significantly increased risk of subsequent MDRO acquisition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1324-1331
Number of pages8
JournalClinical Infectious Diseases
Volume52
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ventilator-associated tracheitis in children: Does antibiotic duration matter?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this