Ventilator Assoicated Pneumonia
| Ventilator Associated Pneumonia | Heather Heim, Erin Lovett and Crystal Inchiocca | | Molloy College | |
|
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a nosocomial, or hospital acquired, infection that affects people who need mechanical assistance to breathe. VAP is the leading cause of nosocomial infection and nosocomial related death in adult critically ill patients when defined as new onset nosocomial infection that occurs more than 48 hours after the patient is intubated (Jacqueline A. Gallagher, 2012). VAP overall is a serious, preventable condition that places unneeded stress upon the patient, nurse and healthcare facility. It’s a condition that with proper training and standardized care, based on evidence based practice, should be able to be minimized and in most cases prevented.
When a patient acquires VAP their original disease process is compounded and the body is further compromised with comorbidities. Recovery time becomes longer and more challenging. There is also greater emotional stress on patients and families, especially if someone is already critically ill. It also prolongs the patient’s length of stay in the hospital (Jacqueline A. Gallagher, 2012). Some studies suggest that patients with VAP have increased mortality (Scott P. Kellie, 2012). Therefore many new and innovative ways are being researched to help improve a standard bundle that healthcare accrediting agencies recommend. A bundle typically consists of interventions which are assembled collectively into a group of standardized measures for care. VAP is a condition that not only affects the patient and hospital impacted, but also the entire healthcare system. Insurance companies are no longer paying for infections acquired by what they deem to be a hospital’s negligence, like VAP, urinary tract infections, and surgical site infections. The cost of caring for patients with this condition is therefore forcibly absorbed by the healthcare facility. A
|
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a nosocomial, or hospital acquired, infection that affects people who need mechanical assistance to breathe. VAP is the leading cause of nosocomial infection and nosocomial related death in adult critically ill patients when defined as new onset nosocomial infection that occurs more than 48 hours after the patient is intubated (Jacqueline A. Gallagher, 2012). VAP overall is a serious, preventable condition that places unneeded stress upon the patient, nurse and healthcare facility. It’s a condition that with proper training and standardized care, based on evidence based practice, should be able to be minimized and in most cases prevented.
When a patient acquires VAP their original disease process is compounded and the body is further compromised with comorbidities. Recovery time becomes longer and more challenging. There is also greater emotional stress on patients and families, especially if someone is already critically ill. It also prolongs the patient’s length of stay in the hospital (Jacqueline A. Gallagher, 2012). Some studies suggest that patients with VAP have increased mortality (Scott P. Kellie, 2012). Therefore many new and innovative ways are being researched to help improve a standard bundle that healthcare accrediting agencies recommend. A bundle typically consists of interventions which are assembled collectively into a group of standardized measures for care. VAP is a condition that not only affects the patient and hospital impacted, but also the entire healthcare system. Insurance companies are no longer paying for infections acquired by what they deem to be a hospital’s negligence, like VAP, urinary tract infections, and surgical site infections. The cost of caring for patients with this condition is therefore forcibly absorbed by the healthcare facility. A
Cited: Alejandro C. Arroliga, M.C. (2012). Reduction in the Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Respiratory Care, 688-696. Drugs.com. (2005, December). Chlorehexidine. Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/pro/chlorhexidine.html Jacqueline A. Gallagher, D. (2012) Implementation of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Clinical Guideline (Bundle). American College of Nursing Pracitioners, 377-382. Scott P. Kellie, M. M.-B.-S. (2012) Procedural amd Educational Interventions to Reduce Ventialtor Associated Pneumonia Rate and Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection Rate. Journal of Intensive Care Medicine. Morehead, M.D., R. S., & Pinto, M.D., S. J. (2000). Ventilator associated pneumonia. JAMA Internal Medicine, 160(13), Retrieved from http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=485396 Roberts N, Moule P. Chlorhexidine and tooth brushing as prevention strategies in reducing ventilator associated pneumonia rates. Nursing in Critical Care (serial online). November 2011: 16(6): 295-302. Available from CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Sedwick M, Lance-Smith M, Reeder S, Nardi J. Using Evidence Based Practice to Prevent Ventilator-Assoicated Pneumonia. Critical Care Nurse [serial online]. August 2012:32 (4): 41-51. Available from CINAHL. Plus with Full Text. Ipswich, MA. Smith, M. (2008, May 21). Ats: Silver Lining Prevents Ventilator Pneumonia. Retrieved from http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ATS/9556