Ventilator Associated pneumonia

 Pneumonia is known to be the second nosocomial disease in U.S.A the first one being Urinary Tract Infection. VAP is a pathologic condition and it has been noted that it is increasing the cost of care as it increases the length of stay.  VAP is a serious infection and a life threatening disease at it increases the mortality in a higher rate.  A high clinical knowledge is needed to examine the patients who develop VAP as well as factor which leads to VAP (Saravu et al, 2013, p. 337).  VAP is brought by pathogenic microorganism which enters in the lower respiratory track and weakens the immune response. People who are infected develop some typical symptoms such as unable to communicate, hypoxemia and fever. A diagnosis is made through clinical sign, radiograph and laboratory test.  For examples, patient with VAP have a high temperature than normal or lower temperature than normal.    White blood cells go beyond or below the normal kevel and some patients develop respirtaoiry distress among other symptoms (Saravu et al, 2013, p.337).  VAP increases the risk of death as it causes neurologic disease and contributes to factors which cause modifiable risk.   A comprehensive research on VAP has been done and there are preventions for reducing the resistance bacteria and infection.  To have an effective control, it is advisable to wash hands properly, use sterile   techniques while conducting invasive procedures and separate the patients whom have resistance organisms.  There are treatments for VAP which includes the   ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and other antibiotics which match with the causative bacteria (Saravu et al, 2013, p.338).

 

 

That leads to the PICOT question;   to those patients who develop VAT while they are admitted in ICU,

1. Factors which lead to VAP in patients who are admitted in ICU and how the factors impact the disease.
2. How long does the patient stay in ICU to recover from VAP or does VPA lead to death.

 

 

 

 

References

Saravu, Kavitha, V. Preethi, Rishikesh Kumar, Vasudev Guddattu, Ananthakrishna Barkur Shastry, and Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay. 2013. "Determinants of ventilator associated pneumonia and its impact on prognosis: A tertiary care experience." Indian Journal Of Critical Care Medicine 17, no. 6: 337-342. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 14, 2016).