PREVENTION OF VAP

PREVENTION

Airway Managment  Obviously, the best way to prevent VAP is to limit the amount of time your patient requires mechanical ventilation. Remove a patient's ET tube as soon as possible, and to do everything possible to avoid repeat endotracheal intubation.  Daily assessment of readiness to wean ventilator.

Gastric Reflux Prevention  Many ventilator patients have nasogastric tubes that predispose them to gastric reflux; this increases the risk of aspiration. The most important intervention to prevent gastric reflux is to keep  the head of bed elevated 30-35 degrees at all times.

Equipment maintenance The CDC no longer calls for routine changes of the ventilator system, instead recommends changing it only when the equipment is visibly soiled or malfunctioning.

Oral care Per facility guidelines. No set standard noted, further research being conducted. Some research states oral care should be provided with chlorhexidine.

Cross contamination Prevention of transmission of microorganisms from healthcare workers to patients, following simple stand precautions can help prevent cross contamination

"Implement ventilator bundle:
Elevation of the Head of the Bed
Daily "Sedation Vacations" and Assessment of Readiness to Extubate
Peptic Ulcer Disease Prophylaxis
Deep Venous Thrombosis Prophylaxis
Daily Oral Care with Chlorhexidine"
from:http://www.ihi.org/knowledge/Pages/Changes/ImplementtheVentilatorBundle.aspx

Reference:

www.cdc.gov.

http://www.ihi.org/knowledge/Pages/Changes/ImplementtheVentilatorBundle.aspx