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Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Publication 1 details the SHEA/IDSA (Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America/Infectious Diseases Society of America) recommendations. Publication 2 has a brief summary. The IHI (Institute for Healthcare Improvement) has valuable resources to help implement the recommendations (publication 3).

  1. Coffin S, Klompas M, Classen D, et al. Strategies to Prevent Ventilator‐Associated Pneumonia in Acute Care Hospitals. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. 2008;29(S1):S31-S40. (free full access).
  2. Yokoe DS, Mermel LA, Anderson DJ, et al. A compendium of strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections in acute care hospitals. Infection control and hospital epidemiology. 2008;29 Suppl 1(October):S12-21. (free full access).
  3. IHI tools to implement the central line bundle. (free full access).
  4. Guide to the Elimination of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia. APIC. 2009. (free full access).

Note that, subsequent to these recommendations, oral hygiene is now recommended as well.

Patient Education Materials

APIC/CHPSO Patient Guide: Single Page Large Print Large Print — Spanish. (free full access).

Implementation Examples

San Antonio Community Hospital

  1. Team Work Prevents VAP (posted on the American Hospital Association Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence site). (free full access).

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