Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP)
What is a
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP)?
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is a lung infection occurring in
patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), requiring, external mechanical
breathing support (a ventilator) intermittently or continuously, through
a breathing tube for more than 48 hours.
VAP can develop in patients for many reasons. Because they are relying
on an external machine to breath, their normal coughing, yawning, and
deep breath reflexes are suppressed. Furthermore, they may have a
depressed immune system, making them more vulnerable to infection. ICU
teams have many ways to try to assist patients with these normal
breathing reflexes, but despite this, patients are still at risk for
developing pneumonia.
How serious is
VAP for hospital patients?
VAP is a serious lung
infection that is associated with a higher mortality rate. VAP can occur
in patients who need to be on a ventilator for at least 48 hours or
more. The majority of patients in a hospital who require a ventilator
are cared for in the ICU. Because patients in an ICU are already quite
ill, they have increased risk factors for infection. If a patient
develops VAP, they will have to stay longer in the ICU, and will be
ventilated for longer periods of time. Overall, they will spend more
time in the hospital.
How is VAP
treated?
Since VAP is caused by a
bacterial infection in the lungs, it is treated using antibiotics.
Sometimes it can be difficult to ascertain if a patient has developed a
VAP, as they are already critically ill, and may have a pre-existing
infection. Professional care teams in ICUs do their best to use leading
practices to prevent a VAP from occurring.
What happens when
you get VAP?
Patients with VAP show
symptoms of either a fever or lower body temperature. The mucous or
phlegm that is brought up from their lungs is infected.
Is VAP
contagious?
Since VAP is caused by
bacteria in the lungs, and patients in the ICU are very ill to begin
with, the bacteria could be contagious if preventative strategies are
not implemented. To prevent the spread of pneumonia to other patients,
health care providers practice proper hand hygiene techniques, and will
discontinue mechanical ventilation as soon as possible when patients are
ready to breathe on their own.
Do patients
contract VAP because of improper sterilization of hospital rooms or
equipment?
When a patient requires
mechanical ventilation, sterile equipment, and sterile techniques are
used to insert the breathing tube. When ICU staff take care of a
ventilated patient, they try to keep the area around the breathing tube
as clean as possible. Patients who are on a ventilator are very sick to
begin with, and are more prone to infection.
Can you only get
VAP in an ICU?
VAP can occur in anyone who
has been on a ventilator for more than 48 hours. Some people who have
certain health problems are chronically ventilated (i.e., all the time).
They may occur in settings other than a hospital, and these
people/patients can develop VAP too.
We are only collecting VAP
rates in a hospital ICU, since patients are more likely to be ventilated
in this location. |
