Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

A Divide and Conquer Approach to VAP Prevention

The Problem

Pneumonia accounts for approximately 15 percent of all hospital-acquired infections and 27 percent of all infections acquired in the medical intensive care unit, according to the CDC. Mortality rates of 20 to 33 percent have been reported. The primary risk factor for hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia is mechanical ventilation, with its requisite endotracheal intubation. Woodhull has focused on preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia since 1999. Efforts, although successful, could be expanded using the latest guidelines.

The Solution

In 2005, Woodhull adopted the Institute for Healthcare Improvement ventilator bundle. Because of Woodhull's earlier quality improvement initiatives, its VAP prevention program exceeds the IHI bundle by including such measures as performing oral care, using proper hand hygiene and checking patients for stomach over-distension.