Molecular detection of atypical microorganisms in patients with ventilator associated pneumonia

Abstract

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among the critically ill patients of intensive care units (ICU). The present cross sectional study was conducted to isolate and identify bacterial causes of VAP among the patients admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The study was conducted between July, 2013 to June 2014. A total of 65 endotracheal aspirate (ETA) and blood samples were collected from patients with clinically suspected ventilator associated peumonia(VAP). Samples were collected from patients on mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. ETA and blood samples were cultured aerobically. Multiplex PCR was performed with ETA to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae , Legionella pneumophila and Chlamydia pneumoniae . Among the atypical bacteria, M. pneumoniae were detected in 5 (7.69%), L. pneumophila in 4 (6.15%) cases by multiplex PCR in ETA from VAP cases. No C. pneumoniae was detected. The study revealed that in VAP cases atypical bacteria should be considered as a possible bacterial agents. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2015; 9(1): 22-25