Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in the calgary health region: a Canadian success story!

Healthc Q. 2008;11(3 Spec No.):129-36. doi: 10.12927/hcq.2008.19662.

Abstract

This article describes the experiences of a Canadian multidisciplinary critical care team striving to reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Several interventions, including a VAP bundle, were used and applied across a health region. Our regional VAP rate has seen a steady decline over the past 12 months and has been largely under our goal of 9.8 cases per 1,000 ventilator-days. The team's success in lowering VAP has provided the momentum for sustained improvement, which has spread to other areas.

MeSH terms

  • Alberta / epidemiology
  • Cooperative Behavior*
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
  • Organizational Case Studies
  • Patient Care Team
  • Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / prevention & control*