Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
VENTILATOR ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA
Ventilator associated pneumonia can be described as infection of the Lungs developing in a patient who has been kept on ventilator. Ventilators are used to help patients in proper breathing by administering oxygen with the help of a tube which is placed in the mouth nose or through a hole made in front of neck of the patient. Infection may develop due to entry of the germs through the tube and as a result, the germs may gain entry into the lungs of the patient leading to an infection. In order to bring down the rate of ventilator associated pneumonia, nurses need to be more vigilant and implement the protocols more strictly. Proper planning and implementation may help in bringing down the rate of the condition significantly.
Nosocomial infections are not new to the hospital settings, in particular ventilator associated pneumonia counts for the highest number of nosocomial infections in the ICU settings. It has been seen that the patients suffering from ventilator associated pneumonia are more likely to die in ICU during treatment procedures. After multiple trials and tribulations, not much could be achieved in regards to prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia. It is difficult to manage the condition with any intervention that can completely prevent the incidences of ventilator associated pneumonia. Research has been going on regarding devising new strategies to prevent ventilator associated pneumonia at different levels. Application of antimicrobial prophylaxis in the oropharynx or and intestine is considered to be a fruitful measure to prevent the condition up to some extent. However, it requires detailed study and thorough observation before the finding can be concluded (Bonten, 2011). Another group of researchers have put forward the idea of implementing fluid management strategies during the initiation process of weaning from ventilation. This method has shown tremendous potential for decreasing the risk of ventricular associated pneumonia among patients who are ventilated (Mekontso Dessap et al., 2014).
Implementation
In order to keep the rate of ventricular associated pneumonia in control, the nurses and other medical professionals try different strategies and follow specific protocols like keeping the head of the patient bed at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees, unless advised otherwise. A constant check of the patients’ ability to breathe properly is ensured on a regular basis through a checklist. The nurses are specially trained to wash their hands with soap, water or with alcoholic hand rubs prior to, and after touching a ventilated patient. The nurses are also advised to ensure that the mouth of the patient is kept clean inside. It is important that the ventilator is properly cleaned or replaced before being used on a different patient (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2016).
As suggested by a double peer reviewed journal article, introduction of ventilator associated pneumonia project education along with implementation of ventilator associated pneumonia care bundle can help in reducing the rate of the infection to a great extent in the paediatric ICU unit (Hill, 2016).
Conclusion
Ventilator associated pneumonia is the commonest type of nosocomial infection observed in the critical care area. It has been an alarming situation for the medical fraternity. Different methods and strategies are being implemented in the hope of controlling such infections, but not much has been achieved yet. Rigorous research work is going on to design and implement strategies for controlling the same.
References
Bonten, M. (2011). Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Preventing the Inevitable. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 52(1), 115-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciq075
CDC - VAP FAQs - HAI. (2016). Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Retrieved 28 June 2016, from https://www.cdc.gov/HAI/vap/vap_faqs.html
Hill, C. (2016). Nurse-led implementation of a ventilator-associated pneumonia care bundle in a children’s critical care unit. Nursing Children And Young People, 28(4), 23-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.7748/ncyp.28.4.23.s21
Mekontso Dessap, A., Katsahian, S., Roche-Campo, F., Varet, H., Kouatchet, A., & Tomicic, V. et al. (2014). Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia During Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation. Chest,146(1), 58-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1378/chest.13-2564
