Red cell Distribution Width as a Prognostic Predictor in Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

Abstract

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a parameter of complete blood count that quantitatively describe the variability in the size of circulating erythrocytes and plays a role in the differential diagnosis of anemia. It has been recently found a strong predictor in many pathological states, for example coronary deaths, non fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, cancer, hemodialysis, infection and diabetes mellitus (Grap et al., 2012). Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an infection that affects the lower respiratory tract after more than 48 h of mechanical ventilation. VAP is considered as “early-onset” when it occurs during the first 5 days and as “late-onset” when it takes place after 5days .Endotracheal intubation is often considered as the moment in which mechanical ventilation starts (Findikli et al., 2018).