Data for 322 patients were analyzed. Patients were
predominately male (63.0%) and white (57.8%), with a mean
age of 57.4 years. Ventilator-associated pneumonia or infection
of the lower respiratory tract was identified in 90 patients
(28.0%); the majority of infections were lower respiratory infections.
Of all infections, 52% occurred before the tracheostomy,
and 48% occurred after the procedure. Respiratory infections
were associated with longer stays and higher costs, which
were significantly higher in patients in whom the infection
developed after the tracheostomy. Gram-negative organisms
were responsible for the majority of infections.