Keywords

Hospital-acquired infections, Mechanical ventilation, Ventilator-associated pneumonia

Authors

1. Cuccio, Lisa MSN, RN, NE-BC
2. Cerullo, Ellen MS, BSN, RN
3. Paradis, Heidi BSN, RN, CCRN
4. Padula, Cynthia PhD, RN
5. Rivet, Cindy MS, RN, CNL, BC
6. Steeves, Susan MSN, RN, CNL, CCRN
7. Lynch, Judy BSN, CCRN

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of 0.12% chlorhexidine rinses and an oral care protocol on ventilator-associated pneumonia rates. A quasi-experimental preintervention-postintervention design was used. The sample included all patients admitted to critical care and on mechanical ventilation at any time during the study period. Data were collected 6 months before and 12 months after intervention. Ventilator-associated pneumonia rates were reduced from 4.3 to 1.86 per 1000 ventilator-days during the study period, with an estimated cost avoidance of $700 000 to $798 000.