Narrative Review of the Epidemiology of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

AbstractHospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are the most common healthcare-associated infections, with rates varying between countries. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among common HAP/VAP pathogens has been reported, and multidrug resistance (MDR) is of further concern across Middle Eastern countries. This narrative review summarizes the incidence and pathogens associated with HAP/VAP in hospitals across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. A PubMed literature search was limited to available data on HAP or VAP in patients of any age published within the past 10  years. Reviews, non-English language articles, and studies not reporting HAP/VAP data specific to a GCC country were excluded. Overall, 41 articles, a majority of which focused on VAP, were selected for inclusion after full-text screening. Studies conducted over multiple years showed a general red uction in VAP rates over time, with Gram-negative bacteria the most commonly reported pathogens. Gram-negative isolates reported across GCC countries includedAcinetobacter  baumannii,Pseudomonas  aeruginosa, andKlebsiella pneumoniae. Rates of AMR varied widely among studies, and MDR amongA.  baumannii,K.  pneumoniae,Escherichia  coli,P.  aeruginosa, andStaphylococcus  aureus isolates was commonly reported. In Saudi Arabia, between 2015  and 2019, rates of carbapenem resistance among Gram-negative bacteria were 19–25%; another study (2004–2009) reported antimicrobia...
Source: Infectious Diseases and Therapy - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research