Evidence-Based Interventions for Prevention of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP)

Abstract

Ventilator associated pneumonia is an hospital acquired infection that can cause severe illness in critically ill patients who are susceptible to complications. Ventilator associated pneumonia or VAP, is defined as an infection in the lungs that develops after 48 hours of intubation in patients receiving mechanical ventilation (Yesilbag & Seker 2020). Specific interventions, such as the use of antibiotics, can be vital in preventing the development of VAP for patients following intubation. Furthermore, the use of endotracheal suctioning in mechanically ventilated patients, to remove secretions containing bacteria, has proven to be effective in reducing the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (Ardehali et al., 2020). These interventions not only improve the patient’s quality of life by shortening their hospital stay, but help reduce medical costs for hospitals. In an effort to help reduce hospital costs associated with treatment and high rates of patient mortality associated with VAP, we must decipher which evidence-based interventions are most useful in preventing the development of the infection. In this case, it is evident that when compared to the use of prophylactic antibiotics, endotracheal suctioning is a more effective method of reducing VAP in ICU patients