Strategies to Prevent Ventilator- Associated Pneumonia (Vap) in Intensive Care Unit (Icu): an Experimental Study.

It has been repeatedly stated that oral care is important in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Endotracheal intubation predisposes patients to developing VAP. The tube acts as a conduit from the mouth to the lungs – a perfect track for bacteria to descend upon. Khezeri, et al. (2014) suggest that “the presence of an endotracheal tube (ETT) inhibits normal coughing, normal swallowing, and the protection of the trachea contact by epiglottis closure.” In addition, an endotracheal tube keeps the patients mouth open – leading to dryness. Bacteria are not washed away by saliva. Also, Landgraf, et al. (2017) mention that the presence of an endotracheal tube in the mouth causes “changes in the oral epithelium” which “might indicate risk for infection in intensive care patients

In clinical experience, it is seen that many patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are on mechanical ventilation. These patients range from having head trauma, heart surgery and respiratory problems yet there is no clear, concise systematic standard oral care procedures noted on the different floors in the hospital. Oral care is a basic nursing care activity that can provide relief, comfort and prevention of microbial growth yet is given low priority when compared to other critical practices in critically ill patients. The Center for Disease Control reveals that Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common nosocomial infection that affects approximately 27% of critically ill patients (Koeman, Van der Ven & Hak,

Oral care aims to supply an adequate hygiene level, which leads to reduce colonisation of dental plaque and oropharynx and to reduce the aspiration of contaminated secretions into the lower airway (Feider et al. 2010). Research has demonstrated that colonisation of the airway and aspiration of colonised saliva are the two main pathogenic causes of VAP (Adib-Hajbaghery et al. 2011). Other cause is the production of a biofilm along the endotracheal tube (ETT) which contains large quantities of microbes that could be spread into the lungs by ventilator-induced breaths (Keyt et al. 2014; Palomar et al. 2010). Additionally, instilling saline into the ETT, suctioning secretions, repositioning the ETT or coughing, could dislodge the biofilm into the airway and increase the risk of VAP (Moore. 2003; Morehead and Pinto. 2002).

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

This paper explores Pneumonia and the respiratory disease process associated with bacterial and viral pathogens most commonly located in the lung. The paper examines the process, symptoms and treatments most commonly viewed in patient cases of Pneumonia. My goal is to educate the reader and to warn of the

Ventilator - associated pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common hospital acquired infection (HAI) and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates for ventilated patients in intensive care units (Bingham, Ashley, Jong, & Swift, 2010). The VAP increases patients’ mortality rates, length of stay and hospital costs (Hiner, Kasuya, Cottingham, & Whitney, 2010). The VAP is the leading causes of death due to nosocomial infections and the

This paper will discuss the relationship of the number of nursing staff in relation to an increased risk of developing nosocomial infections. In healthcare, patients are at a high risk for nosocomial infections. These types of infections are of hospital origin. Especially in the intensive care unit (ICU), the incidence of nosocomial infections is reported to be about “2 to 5 times higher than in the general in-patient hospital population” (Dasgupta, Das, Chawan, & Hazra, 2015). As a result, the increased risk of morbidity and mortality in the ICU continues to be a severe matter in healthcare. For example, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is defined as “pneumonia

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common infection that patients develop while in the hospital and the leading cause of death due to hospital acquired infections (Augustyn, 2007). Hospital acquired infections are also known as nosocomial infections. VAP usually happens when patients are on mechanical ventilation (the ventilator) for over 48 hours. VAP is costly because it increases the hospital length of stay, often times in the Intensive Care Units (ICU). Patients are often on the ventilator and are receiving antibiotics to treat the pneumonia. This paper will show that

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

Objective: To determine if oral care lowers the incidence rate of hospital acquired pneumonia infection in hospitalized patients with ventilators.

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung which results into an excess of fluid or pus accumulating into the alveoli of the lung. Pneumonia impairs gas exchange which leads to hypoxemia and is acquire by inhaling a contagious organism or an irritating agent. (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2013). Fungal, bacteria and viruses are the most common organisms that can be inhale. Pneumonia could be community-acquired or health care associated. Community –acquired pneumonia (CAP) occurs out of a healthcare facility while health care associated pneumonia (HAP) is acquired in a healthcare facility. HAP are more resistant to antibiotic and patients on ventilators and those receiving kidney dialysis have a higher risk factor. Infants, children and the elderly also have a higher risk of acquiring pneumonia due to their immune system inability to fight the virus. Pneumonia can also be classified as aspiration pneumonia if it arises by inhaling saliva, vomit, food or drink into the lungs. Patients with abnormal gag reflex, dysphagia, brain injury, and are abusing drug or alcohol have a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia (Mayo Clinic, 2013). In the case of patient E.O., this patient had rhonchi in the lower lobe and the upper lobe sound was coarse and diminished. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include difficulty breathing, chest pain, wheezing, fever, headache, chills, cough, confusion, pain in muscle or

Non-Invasive positive pressure ventilator (NPPV) is a means of supporting failing respiratory function by providing oxygen enriched gas under pressure without requiring endotracheal intubation. Options for NPPV include

Pneumonia is an illness of the lower respiratory tract in which the lungs become inflamed and congested and alveolar spaces are filled with fluid and cells-polymorphs and lymphocytes (Mandell L.A). It is an inflammatory condition of the lung and it is one of the most serious infections, causing two million deaths annually among the young and elderly. Pneumonia is the largest killer, accounting for 28% to 34% of all child deaths below five years of age in low-income countries and is an important cause of mortality in the elderly in high-income countries (Suárez).

The clinical manifestations of pneumonia will be different according to the causative organism and the patient’s underlying conditions and/or comorbidities (Smeltzer, et al). Some of the manifestations are

The literature review “is the part of the thesis where there is extensive reference to related research and theory in your field; it is where connections are made between the source texts that you draw on and where you position yourself and your research among these sources”. (Ridley,2008).