Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia, or VAP, is a lung infection that develops due to ventilator use. Patients may need a ventilator because they are very ill and are having severe difficulty breathing.

How are we working to prevent VAP?

We use several methods to reduce the chances of our patients developing VAPs, including:

• Keeping the head of the bed raised
• Checking daily to see if the patient can breathe on his or her own
• Using proper hand hygiene
• Cleaning the inside of the patient’s mouth regularly
• Cleaning or replacing equipment between patients

Our Intensive Care Unit staff and respiratory therapists work hard to get our patients off of ventilators as soon as possible to reduce the risk of having a case of VAP. We have not had a case in more than five years.