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Published on May 23, 2017 in CHOP News
Improve Outcomes Keep Patients Safe
Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common healthcare associated infection in children. Ill children may require respiratory support which is delivered through a breathing tube and ventilator. This support is associated with an increased risk for infection, which can result in longer need for mechanical ventilation, longer hospital stays, and increased cost.
VAP prevention is part of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Harm Prevention Program. An interdisciplinary team implemented changes to care for children requiring mechanical ventilation. These changes included the use of standard kits to clean the mouth and filters to protect the ventilator tubing when it was not connected. These standard evidence-based prevention practices have been embedded into the care of every patient on a ventilator at CHOP.
The bedside care team has increased the compliance of the bedside prevention practice which significantly reduced the rate of pneumonia associated with ventilator use.
The rate of VAP rate has decreased by more than 60 percent, resulting in fewer patients having these infections.
Updated January, 2018
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