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Ventilator-associated Pneumonia Basics

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Key points

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  • Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can develop when a patient is on a ventilator. \n
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  • VAP can be treated with antibiotics. \n
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  • There are ways to reduce the risk of a patient contracting VAP. \n
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Overview

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Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a type of healthcare-associated infection (HAI). It is a lung infection that develops in a person who is on a ventilator.

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Causes

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VAP happens when bacteria get into a patient's lungs and cause an infection.

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Reducing risk

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  • Quit smoking. Patients who smoke get more infections. Seek information about how to quit before surgery. \n
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  • Ask healthcare providers to clean their hands before touching the patient or equipment. \n
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  • Ask about raising the head of the bed. \n
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  • Ask when the patient can try breathing without a ventilator. \n
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  • Ask how often healthcare providers clean the patient's mouth. \n
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Healthcare providers should always follow Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices to reduce the risk of spreading these germs to patients. Acute care hospitals should use strategies to prevent VAP.

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Treatment and recovery

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Treatment generally includes antibiotics, but the type of antibiotic depends on the bacteria causing the infection. The healthcare provider will decide which antibiotic is best.

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What CDC is doing

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Resources

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\n Facebook \n LinkedIn \n Twitter \n Syndicate \n
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\n Content Source: \n
\n National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) \n
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Syndicated Content Details:
Source URL: http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/vap/vap.html
Source Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Captured Date: 2016-05-23 21:53:05.0
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