Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP)

Patients who need to be placed on a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe are at high risk for developing pneumonia and other complications. The clinical care team is taking certain steps that can prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). You can help care for your family member by being aware of these measures and asking questions about the care he or she is receiving.

Preventive Steps

Vidant Health is committed to preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia, so we use the ventilator bundle, which is recommended by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

• Elevate the head of bed 30 to 45 degrees. This decreases the risk of the patient breathing in secretions and makes it easier to move air in and out of the lungs.
• Reduce sedation medications. This lets the clinical team assess the patient's ability to breathe unaided and helps determine when the patient is ready to come off the ventilator.
• Give stomach ulcer medication. This prevents a stomach ulcer and avoids gastric bleeding.
• Take steps to prevent blood clots. We may give the patient special stockings or medications.

How are we doing?

We have staff members trained to observe and monitor our use of the preventive steps at the required times. Ventilator bundle compliance results reflect how closely the steps were followed and how our compliance rate affected the number of VAP cases.

Choose a hospital to the right to see the results for that facility.