Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
Some patients who are hospitalized for serious conditions may need the assistance of mechanical ventilation in order to breathe. Patients who require mechanical ventilation cannot breathe on their own and are usually considered to be in intensive care.
The mechanical ventilation effectively breathes for the patient while the medical team finds a way to restore the patient’s breathing. Therefore, it is necessary to the survival of many patients. However, it is not without risks. One of the most serious risks associated with mechanical ventilation is ventilator associated pneumonia.
What is Ventilator Associated Pneumonia?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ventilator associated pneumonia is a pneumonia that occurs in a patient who has been on a mechanical ventilator for 48 hours or more. It is a common hospital infection that the CDC has labeled as a tremendous risk. Studies show that patients on mechanical ventilators are 6- 21 times more likely to develop pneumonia while in the hospital compared to hospital patients who are not on mechanical ventilators.
The fact that a patient is on a mechanical ventilation system puts the patient at risk for ventilator associated pneumonia. However, other factors can increase a patient’s risk of developing this serious complication. A patient who had preexisting lung disease, who is advanced in age, whose immune system is compromised or, who is malnourished is at an increased risk of developing ventilator associated pneumonia. The risk also increases the longer the patient remains on the mechanical ventilator.
How is Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Diagnosed?
Doctors should watch for symptoms of ventilator associated pneumonia as soon as a patient starts on a mechanical ventilator treatment. Symptoms can include fever, an increase in white blood cell count and a change in a patient’s chest x-rays. However, a culture is necessary to determine if pneumonia is present and what type of bacteria is responsible for the infection.
How is Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Treated?
Ventilator associated pneumonia is treated with antibiotics. It is important that the patient receive the right antibiotic to treat the specific bacteria causing the pneumonia. Therefore, it is essential that a culture be taken from a patient who is suspected of having pneumonia so that the right antibiotic can be administered.
Prevention of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
Steps can be taken to prevent the development of ventilator associated pneumonia in patients on mechanical ventilators. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) recommends that everyone carefully wash their hands prior to touching a patient on a mechanical ventilator. Further, the patient’s bed should be inclined. Other breathing assistance techniques, such as a tracheostomy should be considered if a patient is going to need long term assistance with his or her breathing. Further attention should be paid to how a patient is fed to help reduce the risk of the patient developing ventilator associated pneumonia.
The death rate from ventilator associated pneumonia is high. Pneumonia is a serious condition for everyone but is particularly serious for patients who are already receiving intensive medical care and who cannot breathe on their own. Doctors need to be aware of the risk before a patient is intubated and placed on a mechanical ventilator. While the use of a mechanical ventilator may still be necessary and may be the best medical option for a seriously ill patient, the medical staff must take extra precautions to prevent the development of ventilator associated pneumonia.
Ventilator associated pneumonia is a serious and often fatal condition. However, proper prevention techniques and treatment can reduce the fatality rate and allow patients to come off of the mechanical ventilator successfully.