VENTILATOR ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA (VAP) IN COVID-19 PATIENTS: AN OVERVIEW

Mohammed Imthiyas P.*, Dilip Chandrasekhar, Asif Muhammed P. D. and Juby Mary Giji

ABSTRACT

Pandemic corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is affecting respiratory system seriously. This may lead to acute respiratory failure and hospitalization in the ICU with use of invasive mechanical ventilation which may expose them to a risk of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), which may further worsen the disease condition. The primary objective of this review is to assess and report the occurrence of ventilator associated pneumonia in covid patients. It is a common nosocomial infection seen in ICU patients, especially in those who get ventilated. This review aims to highlight the incidence, diagnosis, risk factors, causative organisms, pathophysiology and the pattern of VAP occurrence in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: VAP, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, mechanical ventilation, pneumonia.