Predictors and Outcomes of Ventilated Hospital-acquired Pneumonia

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is defined as an infection of the pulmonary parenchyma that develops in patients admitted to hospital for more than 48 hours and that was not incubating at the time of admission. It represents one of the most common and serious nosocomial infections, associated with significant morbidity, prolonged hospitalisation, and increased mortality in critically ill patients. The aetiology of HAP is primarily driven by micro-aspiration of bacteria colonising the oropharynx and upper gastrointestinal tract. Pathogen distribution is shaped by the duration of hospitalisation, prior antibiotic exposure, local epidemiology, and patient characteristics. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms are particularly prevalent in patients with prolonged inpatient stay and intensive care unit (ICU) admission, as critically ill patients become rapidly colonised with nosocomial patho