Risk of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

Risk of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in relation to Patient Nurse Ration in Relation to Critically Ill Patients
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Risk of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in relation to Patient Nurse Ration in Relation to Critically Ill Patients
This study was undertaken to find out how the nurse patient ratio influences the risk for ventilation-associated pneumonia. The results were mainly aimed at finding ways in which awareness can be created amid patients and nurses to lower the possibility of VAP. Ventilation-associated pneumonia is one of the most common nosocomial infections amongst patient in the ICU (intensive care unit). The risk factor to VAP is the exposure time, i.e. the patient index number risk profile and the period of mechanical ventilation). Generally, VAP increases the patients stay in ICU by 5 to 10 days and increases hospital expense by approximately $10, 000 per case. As a result of the severe consequences of VAP, finding ways to prevent the ailment has become a priority goal in the health care facilities.
The survey was conducted in 27 ICUs in nine European countries: Greece, France, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Belgium. The patients in the study involved those admitted in the ICU for pneumonia treatment or acquired invasive mechanical ventilation for over 2 days. The initial cohort study comprised of 2585 patients. However, statistics on patients with early VAP without symptoms, those who have recently received a clinical diagnosis of CAP (community-acquired pneumonia) and those with non-ventilator hospital acquired pneumonia were not included in the study. The ICUs that failed to give information of on the nurse staffing levels were also not included in the study. In this context, the cohort study comprised of 1658 patients suffering from mechanical ventilation for at least 2 days (Blot, et al., 2011).
During data collection, the severity of the underlying disease was assessed through the implementation of the McCabe distinction of co-morbid conditions. The patient’s prognosis was divided into 3 main categories: non-fatal underlying disease, ultimately fatal disease and rapidly fatal disease. The extent of acute disease was also assessed using the implementation of Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II). SAPS II integrates the chronic disease type of admission age, electrolyte balance, urine output respiratory status, white blood cell count and temperature. Normal staffing levels for all the ICU beds available were considered in the study with no consideration on the bed occupancy. In this case, routine staffing level signifies the nurse to patient ration that is set in each ICU.
During statistical analysis, the variables considered were age, admission diagnosis, underlying disease, SAPS II and nurse to patient ratio. The results depicted that, of the 1658 patients, 23.7% (393) patients developed VAP during their ICU stay while 13.3% (220) patients ha...