A European care bundle for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia

Intensive Care Med. 2010 May;36(5):773-80. doi: 10.1007/s00134-010-1841-5. Epub 2010 Mar 18.

Abstract

Background: One recent approach to facilitating guideline implementation involves the use of care bundles.

Methods: This document presents a care bundle package addressing VAP prevention in an attempt to promote guideline-compliant practices. Uniquely, the development of these care bundles used a formalized methodology to assess the supporting data, based on multi-criteria decision analysis.

Results: The resulting VAP care bundles for prevention were: non-ventilatory circuit changes unless specifically indicated, alcohol hand hygiene, appropriately educated and trained staff, incorporation of sedation control and weaning protocols into patient care, and oral care with clorhexidine.

Conclusion: Adoption of these care bundles should rationalise VAP prevention practises and improve outcomes, such as length of stay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Critical Pathways
  • Europe
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Humans
  • Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / prevention & control*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic