Impact of Intermittent and Continuous Enteral Feeding on Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Pediatric ICUs

Mechanical ventilation has become one of the most important supportive treatment methods to save the life of critically ill children over time. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common complication of mechanical ventilation. It is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).VAP can aggravate patients' condition and have adverse effect on mechanical ventilation. Moreover, VAP is associated with significant increased mortality. In those critical ill patients, the catabolism increased, the anabolism decreased, which can induce negative nitrogen balance. The consensus of optimal nutrition therapy in pediatric critical care in the Asia-Pacific, released in 2014, clearly recommended that early enteral nutrition support, which begin within 24-48 hours after admitting in PICU, can significantly reduce the prevalence and mortality of nosocomial infection. Intermittent enteral feeding and continual enteral feeding are the most common methods of enteral nutrition at present. There is no final conclusion about the association between enteral nutrition methods and VAP. Thus, the relationship between enteral feeding and VAP has long been a controversial issue. There is little clinical research on the correlation between enteral nutrition and VAP in children with mechanical ventilation, and mostly were observational studies which lacks strong evidence. How to choose the appropriate enteral nutrition remains an urgent need in PICU clinical work. Therefore, it is necessary for us to analyze the relationship between enteral feeding and VAP in critically ill children. This study would perform a two-year research with mechanical ventilated patients in PICU of four children hospitals in Shanghai, which aim to determine the relationship between different enteral feeding methods and VAP, to collect the baseline characteristic data of ventilated children, to analyze the risk factors for VAP in PICU patients. The results from our study would contribute to improving the standard of care for children undergoing mechanical ventilation, reducing their lung injury and improving prognosis.

With the development and advancement of modern medical technology, mechanical ventilation has become one of the most important supportive treatment methods to save the life of critically ill children. Ventilator-associated pneumonia （VAP） is a common complication of mechanical ventilation. It is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections in the PICU. VAP can aggravate patients' condition and have adverse effect on mechanical ventilation. An overseas study reported that VAP increased 56% of the PICU length of stay and 43% of the length of hospitalization. Moreover, VAP is associated with significant increased mortality. Because the prevalence and mortality of VAP vary in adult and children, also in different area, it is very necessary to investigate the current status of VAP in local children, which can contribute to clinical prevention and treatment to decrease mortality. Appropriate nutrition support can improve the body's metabolism, promote tissue and body function repair, reduce the incidence of complications. However, inadequate enteral nutrition may cause gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration, which may lead to VAP and exacerbate the condition. Intermittent enteral feeding and continual enteral feeding are the most common methods of enteral nutrition at present. The relationship between enteral feeding methods and VAP has long been a controversial issue. There is little clinical research on the correlation between enteral feeding and VAP in children with mechanical ventilation, and mostly were observational studies which lacks strong evidence. How to choose the appropriate enteral nutrition remains an urgent need in PICU clinical work. Therefore, it is necessary for us to analyze the relationship between enteral feeding and VAP in critically ill children.

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of intermittent or continuous enteral feeding on VAP in PICUs. The secondary objectives are to collect the baseline characteristic data of ventilated children, and to analyze the risk factors of VAP in children. Each patient will be randomly assigned to an intermittent or continuous enteral feeding schedule. Intermittent enteral feeding schedule: feed administered via the nasogastric tube less than 30 mins. Continuous enteral feeding schedule: feed pump delivered via the nasogastric tube over 24 hours. Data on feeding progression, respiratory status and incidence of VAP will be collected and compared. The study will also collect data on baseline characters, ventilation management, ventilated days and the time to discharge from the hospital.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age of 29 days to 16 years.
* Subjects ventilated over or equal to 12 hours.
* Endotracheal intubation.
* Subjects without contraindication for enteral feeding.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Newborn or age \> or equal to 16 years.
* Subjects has been ventilated before this research.
* Subjects ventilated less than 12 hours.
* Invasive ventilation.
* Subjects with severe congenital malformations.