Frequency of ventilator-associated pneumonia with 3-day versus 7-day ventilator circuit changes

Strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia, ventilator-associated events, and nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update

The purpose of this document is to highlight practical recommendations to assist acute care hospitals to prioritize and implement strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), ventilator-associated events (VAE), and non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) in adults, children, and neonates. This document updates the Strategies to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Acute Care Hospitals published in 2014. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology (SHEA), and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Hospital Association, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise.

Frequency of ventilator circuit changes to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonates and children-A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of different frequencies of ventilator circuit changes in neonates and children through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTERVENTIONS

(1) "No routine change of ventilator circuit (unless visibly soiled)" versus "routine change at any fixed interval"; (2) routine change of circuit at "less frequent" versus "more frequent" intervals.

OUTCOMES

Primary outcomes were VAP rate (number of VAP episodes per 1000 ventilator-days) and all-cause mortality before discharge.

METHODS

MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and CINAHL were systematically searched from inception till November 3, 2020. Two authors assessed trial eligibility and risk of bias, and independently extracted data. Data were synthesized using fixed effects model. GRADE was used to assess certainty of evidence (CoE).

RESULTS

We identified six studies enrolling 768 participants evaluating circuit changes at two fixed intervals. Meta-analysis of studies on circuit changes "once in less than 7 days" versus "once weekly" showed no difference in VAP rate (risk ratio: 0.83 [0.38-1.81]; one randomized controlled trial (RCT) and 0.94 [0.49-1.81]; two before-after studies) or mortality before discharge (0.67 [0.34-1.3]; one RCT and 1.01 [0.63-1.64]; two before-after studies). CoE was very low. Less frequent circuit changes reduced health-care costs. No study evaluating "circuit changes only when visibly soiled" versus "circuit changes at a fixed interval" was identified.

CONCLUSION

There is no evidence to suggest that ventilator circuits can be safely left unchanged until visibly soiled in neonates and children. Extending circuit changes interval to "once weekly" may not increase VAP rate (CoE-very low) and reduces healthcare costs.

Strategies to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Acute Care Hospitals: 2014 Update

Previously published guidelines are available that provide comprehensive recommendations for detecting and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The intent of this document is to highlight practical recommendations in a concise format to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and other ventilator-associated events (VAEs) and to improve outcomes for mechanically ventilated adults, children, and neonates. This document updates "Strategies to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Acute Care Hospitals," published in 2008. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise. The list of endorsing and supporting organizations is presented in the introduction to the 2014 updates.

Strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia in acute care hospitals: 2014 update

Previously published guidelines are available that provide comprehensive recommendations for detecting and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The intent of this document is to highlight practical recommendations in a concise format to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing strategies to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and other ventilator-associated events (VAEs) and to improve outcomes for mechanically ventilated adults, children, and neonates. This document updates “Strategies to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Acute Care Hospitals,” published in 2008. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise. The list of endorsing and supporting organizations is presented in the introduction to the 2014 updates.

Risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonatal intensive care unit patients

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious complication in neonatal patients on mechanical ventilation. The objective of this study was to examine the incidence and risk factors associated with VAP, particularly in every 7-day versus every 14-day ventilator circuit changes, in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Seventy-one neonates hospitalized in the NICU were enrolled. First, the neonates were divided into groups with and without VAP. On univariate logistic regression analyses, prolonged mechanical ventilation, frequent re-intubation, low gestational age, and low birth weight (BW) were significant risk factors for VAP development. After adjustments for other variables, only BW <626 g was a significant independent predictor for VAP in NICU infants. Second, to examine the effect of the frequency of changing ventilator circuits on the incidence of VAP, circuit changes were compared between the every 7-day group and the every 14-day group. The incidence of VAP per 1000 ventilator days was 9.66 for the every 7-day group and 8.08 for the every 14-day group, and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. BW <626 g was a significant independent predictor of VAP, and decreasing the frequency of ventilator circuit changes from every 7 days to 14 days had no adverse effect on the VAP rate in the NICU.

Preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia in children: an evidence-based protocol

Ventilator-associated pneumonia, the second most common hospital-acquired infection in pediatric intensive care units, is linked to increased morbidity, mortality, and lengths of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit, adding tremendously to health care costs. Prevention is the most appropriate intervention, but little research has been done in children to identify necessary skills and strategies. Critical care nurses play an important role in identification of risk factors and prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. A care bundle based on factors, including evidence regarding the pathophysiology and etiology of pneumonia, mechanical ventilation, duration of ventilation, and age of the child, can offer prompts and consistent prevention strategies for providers caring for children in the pediatric intensive care unit. Following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and adapting an adult model also can support this endeavor. Ultimately, the bedside nurse directs care, using best evidence to prevent this important health care problem.

Risk factors and interventions for ventilator-associated pneumonia in pediatric patients

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a leading nosocomial infection in pediatrics. Little research has investigated the risk factors or effectiveness of interventions for pediatric VAP prevention. The purposes of this study were to identify the risk factors associated with VAP in pediatric patients and describe current VAP prevention practices. Data were gathered retrospectively on ventilated patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit over 12 months. No variables were found to be predictive of VAP. Review of practices indicates that better documentation is needed of all interventions. Findings provide information to guide the implementation of VAP bundles. Implementation should focus on adequate documentation of VAP prevention efforts.

Economic analysis of a pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention initiative in nicaragua

We performed an economic analysis of an intervention to decrease ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevalence in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) at two Nicaraguan hospitals to determine the cost of the intervention and how effective it needs to be in order to be cost-neutral. A matched cohort study determined differences in costs and outcomes among ventilated patients. VAP cases were matched by sex and age for children older than 28 days and by weight for infants under 28 days old to controls without VAP. Intervention costs were determined from accounting and PICU staff records. The intervention cost was approximately $7,000 for one year. If VAP prevalence decreased by 0.5%, hospitals would save $7,000 and the strategy would be cost-neutral. The finding that the intervention required only modest effectiveness to be cost-neutral and has potential to generate substantial cost savings argues for implementation of VAP prevention strategies in low-income countries like Nicaragua on a broader scale.

WITHDRAWN: Risk Factors and Interventions for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Pediatric Patients

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2012.03.027. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn.