Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is defined as a pneumonia (a serious lung infection) occurring in patients in the ICU requiring intermittent or continuous mechanical ventilation through either a tracheostomy or endotracheal tube for more than 48 hours.

 

Strategies have been implemented to prevent and monitor VAP rates.  Lake of the Woods District Hospital is reporting VAP rates for the ICU into the Critical Care Information System (CCIS) daily.  Once the data is validated, public reporting is done quarterly.

 

Tracking of VAP rates over time will provide us with helpful information that we can use to make quality improvements over time.  Reducing the incidence of VAP will help improve patient care and safety, decrease ICU and hospital lengths of stay and improve access to the system. 

 

Calculations of VAP rates:

 

Number of  Ventilator Associated Pneumonias diagnosed in ICU    X 1000

Total Number of Ventilator Days