Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Background

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a type of lung infection that occurs in a person who has been on a ventilator.  A ventilator is a machine that helps a person breathe by giving oxygen through a tube placed in the mouth, nose, or through a hole in the front of the neck.  Germs can enter the ventilator and get into the patient’s lungs, causing illness.

Certain factors can place patients at higher risk for developing VAP. Some of these factors are how long the patient has been on a ventilator, patient age, and underlying medical conditions (Weinstein, Bonten, Kollef, and Hall, 2004). Following recommended infection prevention practices before and after a patient is placed on a ventilator can help reduce the risk of VAP.

 

 

 

Educational Resources

VDH Infection Prevention and Control Assessments: The HAI/AR team is available to conduct a no-cost, non-regulatory, onsite visit to help a facility identify its infection prevention strengths and areas of opportunity.

General Resources

Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group

VCU Virginia Infection Prevention Training Center

World Health Organization

 

 

 

Setting-Specific Resources

CDC Interfacility Transfer Form - The patient transfer form helps make it easier to share information when patients are moved between different places for care. Hospitals and groups focused on making patient safety better can change and use this form to fit their needs.

 

 

 

Patient Resources

 

 

 

Data & Reporting

National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)

Virginia Communicable Disease & Outbreak Reporting Requirements

  • There is no state or federal reporting requirement to report ventilator-associated events or ventilator-associated pneumonia at this time.
Last Updated: December 10, 2024