Caracterización clínica y epidemiológica de la neumonía nosocomial asociada a ventilación mecánica en pacientes de 40 a 70 años. Hospital público de Santa Elena durante el periodo 2023 al 2025.

Abstract

Ventilator-associated nosocomial pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most significant healthcare-associated infections in critically ill patients, due to its impact on morbidity, mortality, and hospital costs. This complication occurs in patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours and is often associated with factors such as advanced age, the presence of comorbidities, prolonged ventilatory support, and colonization by multidrug-resistant microorganisms. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of mechanical ventilation-associated nosocomial pneumonia in patients aged 40 to 70 years treated at a public hospital in the province of Santa Elena during the period 2023–2025. This is an observational, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study based on a review of medical records stored in the institutional system. The variables chosen for this study are sociodemographic, comorbidities, duration of mechanical ventilation, etiological agents, clinical manifestations, diagnostic findings, and in-hospital mortality. Data analysis will be performed using descriptive statistics and tests of association, with the support of specialized statistical software. The results are expected to identify the main clinical and epidemiological factors associated with VAP in the local context and to provide useful information for strengthening prevention strategies, epidemiological surveillance, and clinical management of this condition in intensive care units.