RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Bundles are groups of interventions to reduce nosocomial infection rates. We evaluated the current status of ventilatorassociated pneumonia bundle compliance in our hospital to propose an improvement plan on the basis of the results. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Bundle includes: raising the head of the bed (30°, daily assessment of sedation requirements, peptic ulcer disease and deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis. It was evaluated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and two postoperative recovery units (called REA1 and REA3) from June 25 until July 20, 2007. RESULTS: In ICU, 222 observations were made (189 complete), in REA1 34 observations (26 complete) and in REA3, 35 observations (27 complete). Bundle compliance was 77.2% in ICU, 50% in REA1 and 70.2% in REA3. Lowest compliance component was raising the head of the bed (UCI, 85.8%; REA1, 57.6%, and REA3, 69%). Improved interventions proposed were to include standardized requirements for raising the head of the bed to 45°, to empower nurses to make daily "sedation vacations" (interruption of sedation to point of alertness) and mention in medical history when an item cannot be carried out. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement strategies through bundles are a quick and easy way to obtain process indicators that help us improve the prevention of nosocomial infections.