Addressing HAP and VAP Risk Factors

Maintaining oral hygiene has been proven to help reduce healthcare-acquired pneumonias (HAPs), including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and aspiration pneumonia.^1,2,3 VAP is the most frequent infection occurring in patients after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).⁴

In a large European observational study, almost 25% of patients developed an ICU-acquired infection, and the respiratory site accounted for 80% of these infections. VAP can be associated with increased duration of ventilation, ICU and hospital length of stay, and significantly increased costs.⁵ Prevention of VAP is possibly one of the most cost-effective interventions currently attainable in the ICU.⁶

The information in this section, which includes clinical evidence and education, will help you build and implement a comprehensive and evidence-based oral hygiene program for your facility.

REFERENCES: 1. Schleder B, Stott K, Lloyd RC, J Advocate Health Care, 2002;4(1):27-30. 2. Vollman K, Garcia R, Miller L, AACN News. Aug 2005;22(8):12-6. 3. Yoneyama T, et al., J Am Geriatrics Society. 2002;50(3):434-8. 4. Vincent J-L et al. Sepsis in European intensive care units: Results of the SOAP study. Critical Care Medicine 2006, 34:344-353 5. Safdar N et al. Clinical and economic consequences of ventilator-associated pneumonia: a systematic review. Critical Care Medicine 2005, 33:2184-93 6. Shorr AF & Wunderink RG. Dollars and sense in the intensive care unit: the costs of ventilator associated pneumonia. Critical Care Medicine 2003, 31:1582-3.