Use of Reticulocyte Ratio and Neutrophil / Lymphocyte Ratio in the Diagnosis of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia

In this study, the utility of changes in the ratio of Ret-He and NLR as an early inflammation marker for VAP will be evaluated.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common nosocomial infections in the intensive care unit, affecting one third of patients requiring mechanical ventilation for a noninfectious reason. In the case of inflammation, iron retention increases in the reticuloendothelial system cells; hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis is reduced. It has been reported that the ratio of reticulocyte / hemoglobin (Ret-He) decreases in the early period in community-acquired pneumonia patients and may be a guide as a marker of inflammation. In addition, the neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a parameter studied in the hemogram panel. It provides a clue to both the presence of infection and the focus of the infection. In this study, the utility of changes in the ratio of Ret-He and NLR as an early inflammation marker for VAP will be evaluated.