Table 1 Main baseline characteristics of the 87 study patients
Immediate n = 44 | Conservative n = 43 | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
Age, y, median [IQR] | 55.3 [49.9–65.1] | 59.3 [52.3–69.3] | 0.32 |
Females, n (%) | 14 (31.8) | 17 (39.5) | 0.45 |
Immunodeficiency, n (%) | 0 (0) | 3 (6.9)a | 0.12 |
AT within 48 h of ICU admission, n (%) | 30 (68.2) | 27 (62.8) | 0.60 |
SAPS II, median [IQR] | 55.0 [42.5–64.0] | 58.0 [42.0–68.0] | 0.75 |
Knaus Chronic Health Status Score [24], n (%) | |||
A | 12 (27.3) | 10 (23.3) | 0.59 |
B | 22 (50.0) | 26 (60.5) | |
C | 10 (22.7) | 7 (16.3) | |
Reason for iMV, n (%) | |||
Neurologic | 28 (63.6) | 18 (41.9) | 0.10 |
Respiratory | 15 (34.1) | 23 (53.49) | |
Other | 1 (2.27) | 2 (4.65) | |
COVID-19 pneumonia | 0 (0) | 9 (20.9%) | 0.001 |
Time from intubation to VAP suspicion, days, median [IQR] | 6.0 [3.0–8.0] | 7.0 [5.0–10.0] | 0.10 |
Patients with confirmed VAP | 30 (68.2%) | 26 (60.5%) | 0.45 |
20% FiO2 increase around VAP suspicion, n (%) | 34 (77.3) | 33 (76.7) | 0.95 |
Lowest PaO2/FiO2 around VAP suspicion, median [IQR] | 172 [161–197] | 172 [153–233] | 0.94 |
Lowest/Highest body temperature around VAP suspicion, median [IQR] | 38.65 [38.1–39.2] | 38.5 [38.1–38.9] | 0.14 |
Lowest/Highest leucocyte count around VAP suspicion, median [IQR] | 14.3 [10.3–18.5] | 11.9 [8.5–18.9] | 0.32 |
Purulent respiratory secretions at VAP suspicion, n (%) | 32 (72.7) | 36 (83.7) | 0.21 |