Running head: VENTILATOR-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP): The Key to Prevention
Aleisha N. Curry
Professional Role Development II Nursing 402
Christian Brothers University
February 20, 2012
Sue Trzynka, Ph.D., RN

Introduction In the fast paced Trauma Intensive Care Unit (TICU) there are many things to remember while working with ventilated patients. Therefore, it is essential to implement practices that will decrease opportunities for adverse incidents. Ventilated patients represent about forty percent of the average daily census in the TICU. The Regional Medical Center at Memphis utilizes a ventilator bundle in order to decrease the risk of adverse events associated with the …show more content…

Research revealed that the use of chlorhexidine oral rinse is directly associated with reduced rates of respiratory infection by decreasing colonization (Tolentino-DelosReyes et al.,2007). The studies about chlorhexidine rinses are in relation to cardiac patients. There has been no evidence based information directly related to ventilated patients in relation to oral rinses, but the data from the cardiac patients produced some positive results. Although the studies are definitive for cardiac patients and not ventilated patients, the collaboration of the mechanical effort of brushing teeth and the pharmacological effort of utilizing a chlorhexidine oral rinse will decrease the amount bacteria in the mouth and lungs.

Most patients receiving mechanical ventilation are given stress ulcer prophylaxis, often with medications that increase the gastric pH (Augustyn, 2007). The implementation of stress ulcer prophylaxis is not proven to directly prevent VAP but it will decrease the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and bacterial colonization of the stomach that can lead to aspiration and colonization of the respiratory tract (Tolentino-DelosReyes et al.,2007).

Hand washing is the single most effective defense from the spread of all organisms. Studies on hand-washing practices focused on comparing bacterial counts