Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the bacterial pathogens identified in endotracheal aspirate cultures, as well as their antibiotic susceptibility profiles, in patients diagnosed with ventilator-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit of our hospital.

Methods: Endotracheal aspirate cultures of patients who were followed up in the intensive care unit and diagnosed with ventilator-associated pneumonia were retrospectively reviewed. Bacterial identification was performed using conventional methods. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion method and Epsilometer test (E-test).

Results: Of the 74 patients included in the study, 39 (52.7%) were male and 35 (47.3%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 73.26 ± 12.54 years. A total of 86 ventilator-associated pneumonia episodes were identified, including 12 patients (16.2%) who experienced two episodes. Polymicrobial growth was observed in only two episodes (2.3%). The isolated pathogens were as follows: Acinetobacter spp. (45.5%), Pseudomonas spp. (19.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (10.2%), Klebsiella spp. (9.1%), and other Enterobacterales species. Among the isolates, 95% of Acinetobacter spp. and 17.6% of Pseudomonas spp. were resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics and were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. Of the S. aureus isolates, 22.2% were identified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was detected in ≥50% of Enterobacterales isolates.

Conclusion: As the distribution of ventilator-associated pneumonia pathogens and their antibiotic resistance profiles can vary across healthcare institutions, each facility should analyze its local bacterial distribution and resistance patterns related to ventilator-associated pneumonia, and regularly monitor current epidemiological data.