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Ventilator-associated Pneumonia
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a well known complication of mechanical ventilation (MV) and is associated with increased duration of MV, hospital length of stay, and cost.
- VAP is commonly associated with multi-drug resistant organisms, including Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, and Enterobacteriaceae.
- Given the significant impact upon morbidity, a number of organizations have recommended "bundles" of care for the prevention of VAP.
- Important measures for the prevention of VAP include:
- Strict hand hygiene
- Head of bed elevation to 30-45 degrees
- Closed endotracheal suctioning
- Maintaining endotracheal tube cuff pressure > 20 cm H2O
- Oral chlorhexidine rinses
- Orogastric tube placement
References
Kollef MH. Ventilator-associated complications, including infection-related complications. Crit Care Clin 2013; 29:33-50.