Bundlesfor the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in a Brazilian hospital

Background: ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant infectious complication in Intensive Care Units (ICU) related to increased mortality and hospital expenses. Bundles care has been successful for prevention of VAP, gathering a group of actions that together result in the reduction of infections and period of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Objectives: to evidence the effectiveness of the bundle for prevention of VAP in the ICU of a Brazilian hospital. Methods: this study was carried out in an adult ICU with 20 beds of a general hospital in the city of Recife, northeastern Brazil, from January 2012 to December 2014. Preventive measures included the indication of IMV, oral hygiene with chlorhexidine 0.12%, the supine position (30-45°), cuff pressure between 20-30 cmH2O, prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis and stress ulcer. The daily application involved ICU interdisciplinary team, audited by the Hospital Infection Control Service. Results: There was a considerable reduction in the incidence density (ID) of VAP, with the beginning of the preventive measures and reduction of VMI utilization rate: View this table: Table 1. Influence of adherence to bundles in reducing ID of VAP and the utilization rate of IMV in an adult ICU in northeastern Brazil, from 2012 to 2014. Conclusion: The bundle application by industry professionals may have been a favorable spot, contributing to patient safety, as they took on the role of actors of this strategy, which requires no increase in workload or costs, being accessible to all realities.