[Nursing care in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia]

Drug Prevention and Control of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most prevalent and serious complications of mechanical ventilation, which is considered a common nosocomial infection in critically ill patients. There are some great options for the prevention of VAP: (i) minimize ventilator exposure; (ii) intensive oral care; (iii) aspiration of subglottic secretions; (iv) maintain optimal positioning and encourage mobility; and (v) prophylactic probiotics. Furthermore, clinical management of VAP depends on appropriate antimicrobial therapy, which needs to be selected based on individual patient factors, such as previous antibacterial therapy, history of hospitalization or mechanical ventilation, and bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance patterns. In fact, antibiotic resistance has exponentially increased over the last decade, and the isolation of a multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen has been identified as an independent predictor of inadequate initial antibiotic therapy and which is significantly associated with increased mortality. Multiple attempts were used in the treatment of VAP, such as novel antibacterial agents, inhaled antibiotics and monoclonal antibodies. In this review, we summarize the current therapeutic options for the prevention and treatment of VAP, aiming to better management of VAP in clinical practice.

[Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia: a comparison of level of knowledge in three critical care units]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the level of knowledge of the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia guidelines of nurses working in three intensive care units (ICU) in 3 university hospitals in a Spanish region, and evaluate the relationship between this level of knowledge and years worked in the ICU.

METHOD

A descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional, multicentre study was conducted using a validated and reliable questionnaire, made up by 9 questions with closed answers drawn from the EVIDENCE study. A total of 98 questionnaires were collected from ICU nurses of the three university hospitals (A, B, and C) from January to April 2014. The sample from hospital A responded the most, in contrast with the sample from hospital B, which was the one with the less participation. The Pearson correlation was calculated in order to determine the relationship between nurse years worked in ICU and level of knowledge.

RESULTS

Hospital A obtained in the best mean score in the questionnaire, 6.33 (SD 1.4) points, followed by hospital C with 6.21 (SD 1.4), and finally, the hospital B with 6.06 (SD 1.5) points. A p=.08 was obtained on relating years worked with the level of knowledge.

CONCLUSION

The results showed a high level of knowledge compared other studies. There was a tendency between the years worked in the unit and the level of knowledge in ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention.

[Cuff pressure control at the intersinve care unit: influence of nursing professionals' training]

OBJETIVE

To analyze proper control of endotracheal cuff pressure in an intensive care unit. The specific objective is to verify whether training of nursing professionals improves monitoring endotracheal cuff pressure.

BASIC PROCEDURES

the study type is descriptive, observational and retrospective. All patients were admitted to the Critical Unit II of the Clínico San Carlos Hospital between May 2010-November 2011, requiring either a tracheal tube or tracheal cannula. Studied variables were: number of in range measures, number of intubated patients, or with tracheal cannula and register. Four cuts were made on all admitted patients admitted during the study period in order to measure endotracheal cuff pressure. Two cuts were performed before the professional nurses training and the other two cuts after a specific training with respect to endotracheal cuff pressure and Zero pneumonia.

RESULTS

There were 74 measurements. The first cut obtained 40.74% of measures in range. In the second cut 61.90% of measures were identified in range. In the third cut, it was found that 85.7% of measures were in range and in the fourth court, it was noted the 89.47% of measures were in range.

CONCLUSIONS

Monitoring of the endotracheal cuff pressure was inadequate before specific training of professionals. Nursing professionals training facilitates the correct measurement of the endotracheal cuff pressure, which improves patient safety.

Advances in enteral nutrition research

Enteral nutrition (EN) has some advantages in maintaining physiological function in surgical patients, and gets more and more extensive applications. This paper carries out a comprehensive analysis of enteral nutrition in terms of evaluation before applying EN, the selection of application methods, application duration, the selection of preparations, and safety. The improvement measures are finally put forward.