Secondary Analysis on Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and Pressure Injury

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a lung infection that develops in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. VAP contributes to about 50% of hospital-acquired pneumonia in ICU settings. One of the recommendation of the Institute of for Healthcare Improvement ventilator bundle is HOB elevation. HOB elevation affects shearing forces and makes higher risk for pressure injury development. Pressure injury (PI) is localized damage to the skin over a bony prominence. PI prevention guidelines recommend that HOB positioning should be lower to reduce risk for PI development which contradicts VAP prevention guidelines for the HOB between 30 and 45 degrees for ICU patients. This presents a care dilemma and tension. The purpose of this study was to perform a secondary data analysis using cumulative electronic health record data in order to determine the association of HOB elevation with VAP and PI in ICU patients. A secondary data analysis was conducted to determine whether HOB elevation is associated with VAP and PI. HOB elevation was not likely to be associated with VAP prevention whereas it was likely to be related to PI development. This is somewhat contrary to popular data and publications. Prospective cohort study is desired to inform us in an evidence-based fashion what actually is optimal HOB elevation for ventilated patients in ICU settings.