International Infection Prevention Week

We have a quick update.  This is International Infection Prevention Week, the largest annual initiative to promote safe, hygienic hospital practices and stop Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) before they happen.

Although all HAIs can lead to dangerous outcomes, what you may not know is that Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the HAI most likely to cause death.  The website, http://vap-news.com, contains news and solutions concerning VAP and will be of interest doctors and patients alike.

Here are some of the facts concerning VAP that you should be aware of:

• Approximately 8-28% of critical care patients develop VAP
• Healthcare-associated pneumonia patients have a mortality rate of 20% to 33%
• VAP increases patient time in the ICU by 4 to 6 days
• Each incidence of VAP is estimated to generate an increased cost of $20,000 to $40,0001
• VAP accounts for 47% of all infections in ICU.
• Mortality rates for VAP are between 20% and 70%.
• VAP leads to increased hospitalization stays, costs, and mortality.
• Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common health care-associated infections (HAIs) in critical care settings.
• Ventilator-associated pneumonia is defined as pneumonia occurring more than 48 hours after patients have been intubated and received mechanical ventilation.
• Prevention of VAP involves limiting exposure to resistant bacteria, discontinuing mechanical ventilation as soon as possible, and a variety of strategies to limit infection while intubated.
• Proper hand washing, sterile technique for invasive procedures, and isolation of individuals with known resistant organisms are all mandatory for effective Ventilator Associated Pneumonia control.

If you would like more information about Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, the websites  http://vap-news.com and haiwatch.com/VAP are available.

This information is brought to you by Dr. Craig McGiffin, your chiropractor for the Outer Banks.  Call Dr. Craig for any of your chiropractic needs.