Professional paper

Ingrid Živić ; Sestra za nadzor nad bolničkim infekcijama,

Abstract

Despite improvements in its prevention, diagnosis and treatment, ventilator associated pneumonia still remains
the most common hospital-acquired infection in the intensive care units.
Data on patients treated in the intensive care units that have been artificially ventilated for a period longer than 48 hours
were gathered during a six month period. Patients who acquired ventilator-associated pneumonia had a five times longer
stay at the ICU and a six times longer period of mechanical ventilation than the patients who did not acquire VAP.
The analysis included risk factors related to the host, the invasive tools and the staff, as well as prevention measures aiming
at a decrease of bacterial contamination of the respiratory and digestive tract and/or a decrease of the incidence of contaminated
secrete aspiration in the lower respiratory tract.
The incidence of VAP can significantly be lowered by identification of high risk patients, modification of routine interventions
in everyday care and therapy, observation of protocols and education on prevention possibilities for this type of
pneumonia.

Keywords

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia; prevention, risk factors

Hrčak ID:

85622

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/85622

Publication date:

30.12.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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