Surveillance and prevention of healthcare-associated infections: best practices to prevent ventilator-associated events.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) leads to an increase in morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. In addition to increased evidence from the latest European and American guidelines (published in 2017 and 2022, respectively), in the last two years, several important clinical experiences have added new prevention tools to be included to improve the management of VAP. AREAS COVERED This paper is a narrative review of new evidence on VAP prevention. We divided VAP prevention measures into pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and ventilator care bundles. EXPERT OPINION Most of the effective strategies that have been shown to decrease the incidence of complications are easy to implement and inexpensive. The implementation of care bundles, accompanied by educational measures and a multidisciplinary team should be part of optimal management. In addition to ventilator care bundles for the prevention of VAP, it could possibly be beneficial to use ventilator care bundles for the prevention of noninfectious ventilator associated events.