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Quality and Patient Safety
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP)

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is an infection that is sometimes acquired from prolonged use for mechanical ventilation. A ventilator is a machine that helps a patient breathe or breathes for a patient. The tube can be placed in a patient’s mouth, nose, or through a hole in the front of the neck. VAP occurs if bacteria enters the lungs through the tube and causes a lung infection.

What are we doing to decrease VAPs?

• Keeping the patient’s head raised between 30 and 45 degrees
• Checking the patient’s ability to breathe on his or her own so the patient can be taken off the ventilator as soon as possible
• Cleaning hands before and after touching the patient or the ventilator to decrease contamination
• Cleaning the inside of the patient’s mouth regularly
• Shortening the duration of mechanical ventilation
• Educating staff