Reducing The Risk Of Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia

Critically ill patients that require mechanical ventilation are at risk of developing secondary infections that may increase length of stay and possibly even morbidity. This fragile patient population requires special attention and meticulous adherence to established nursing standards of care. These standards of care are founded on evidenced based practices. It is important that nurses receive education about why these standards are in place and what consequences can result due to not following the established care protocols.

Nardi (2012) has found the following: Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) in the United States and is responsible for 25% of the infections that occur in intensive care units (ICUs). VAP is associated with increases in death rates, lengths of stay, and healthcare costs. (p. 41) As frontline caregivers and advocates for their patients, nurses need to understand the basics of VAP, risk factors for this type of pneumonia, and strategies that may avoid the

The purpose of this document is a critical study and analysis of the oral care provided by nursing staff as part of the Ventilator Care Bundle (VCB) and to assess whether the frequency of mouth care performed is related to the prevention of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in patients mechanically ventilated (Zilberberg et al. 2009).

To encourage physicians, ICU nurses, and respiratory therapist to use the ventilator associated pneumonia bundle in all ventilated patients in an intensive care unit.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a bacterial infection that occurs in the lower respiratory system within the first 48 hours of endotrachal intubation (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Camera, 2011). Although any hospital patient is susceptible to pneumonia, ventilator dependent patients are at the highest risk of acquiring pneumonia. The purpose of this paper is to identify the risk factors, incidences, and preventions of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) using a quantitative research study performed in Malaysia. “The aim of this

The authors of Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine state that “Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a subset of HAP that occurs in mechanically ventilated patients more than 48 h after tracheal intubation” The type of ventilator that is needed to treat patients is called a mechanical ventilator. For these ventilators, a tube has to be inserted down the person’s throat thus causing more bacterial to get inside the patient’s body. Conclusion While most may think that hospitals are an environment for patients to return to their healthy state, hospitals can also be an environment where it deters them from healing. Hospital-acquired illnesses kill many each year and is due to reason of neglect or misuse of equipment.

VAP is one of the common hospitals acquired infections, which got significant importance in following evidence based practice to prevent it. The authors of this study used a retrospective single center observational cohort study, done in the ICU at Scott and White Hospital, Temple, Texas. The study took almost two years for its completion. The research team implemented the ventilator bundle about 258 patients in mechanical ventilator. The limitations of the study were its retrospective nature, single center study and the database does not have metrics for severity, such as Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) score.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the effects of oral care on ventilator-associated pneumonia for inpatient

From investigation in health practices, ventilator associated pneumonia caught my attention. “Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units. Most episodes of VAP are thought to develop from the aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions containing potentially pathogenic organisms. Aspiration of gastric secretions may also contribute, though likely a lesser degree. Tracheal intubation interrupts the body’s anatomic and physiologic defenses against aspiration, making mechanical ventilation a major risk for Ventilator Associated Pneumonia. Semi-recumbent positioning of mechanically ventilated patients may help reduce the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux and lead to a decreased incidence of VAP. The one randomized trial to date of semi- recumbent positioning shows it to be an effective method of reducing VAP. Immobility in critically ill patients leads to atelectasis and decreased clearance of bronchopulmonary secretions. The accumulation of contaminated oropharyngeal secretions above the endotracheal tube cuff may contribute to the risk of aspiration. Removing these

Each patient was subjected to four assessments. Assessment s were given at the screening, at baseline after randomization at the end of the 12 weeks treatment and size months after the end of therapy in order to evaluate the long-term effects of the treatment. Patients in the wait-list group were offered one additional assessment at the end of the 12-week waiting period. The patients were assessed by independent and trained clinicians who that had no knowledge to the treatment conditions, and who was not involved in direct clinical care of any of the

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains a big drawback within the hospital setting, with terribly high morbidity, mortality, and cost. Some people tend to perform an evidence-based review of the literature that specializes in clinically relevant pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to prevent VAP. Thanks to the importance of this condition the implementation of preventive measures is predominant within the care of mechanically ventilated patients. There is proof that these measures decrease the incidence of VAP and improve outcomes within the intensive care unit. A multidisciplinary approach, continuing

Therefore, these patients are not ambulating promptly which could lead to more weaknesses and decrease bed mobility. Sadly, if these patients cannot turn independently, there could be a delay in turning and repositioning as well. Dysphasia and swallowing dysfunction are widely accepted risk factors for pneumonia especially aspiration pneumonia (Dang & Marrie, 2014). Nevertheless, too often patients with pneumonia do not receive speech therapy screening if they do not have a Gastrostomy tube. These current practices need to be revised if SNFs want to reduce their readmissions rates within 30 days. Patients with pneumonia need to be evaluated by rehabilitation services promptly upon admission and a plan of care needs to be created and implemented

In high acute settings, such as intensive care units essential nursing care such as oral care is very vital to prevent life-threatening complications such as nosocomial – acquired, Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP), and also most patients in intensive care are on oral intubation, and medications such as anticholinergics, antihypertensives, which may lead to xerostomia (dry mouth). One of the challenging nosocomial infections is VAP, and a leading cause of mortality in hospital patients in high acuity settings (Jones, 2007). The development of VAP is occurred due to mechanical ventilation, longer ICU stays and longer intubation periods, increasing the mortality of ICU patients to as high as 70 per cent (Jones, 2007). Good

Demographic and baseline clinical data was collected from patients before being put on BiPAP. The information was obtained about age, gender, pH, GCS, PO2, PCO2, RR, Bicarbonate etc.

The patient's overall symptoms and lab work suggest that she is suffering from hospital acquired pneumonia. Currently the patient is presenting a moist chesty cough. Additionally, her heart rate is elevated, her oxygenation is low, and her RR is high. She has a raised white blood cell count, which indicates infection. Finally, the patient is acting confused and disoriented, which can be the direct result of a lack of oxygenation to the brain. All of these symptoms point to pneumonia (Torres, 1999).