VAP Fact Sheets
A series of fact sheets distributed and posted prominently reinforced staff awareness of proper procedures for minimizing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. The sheets covered five major topics:
1. Risk factors
2. Causes of VAP
3. Decreasing the risk to patients
4. Proper procedure for draining ventilator circuit condensate
5. Collecting a suctioned sputum specimen
Here, for example, are facts contained in sheet #5:
• Wash hands or use waterless antiseptic agent.
• Put on clean gloves.
• Connect suction tube adapter to sputum trap.
• Put on sterile gloves.
• Connect sterile suction catheter to rubber tubing on sputum trap.
• If secretions are thick and tenacious, install small amount of normal saline into endotracheal tube.
• Insert the tip of the catheter into the endotracheal tube or tracheostomy. Do not apply suction. Advance catheter until patent coughs.
• As patient coughs, apply intermittent suction for collection of 2 mL to 10 mL of sputum.
• Remove gloves and wash hands or use waterless hand antiseptic agent.
• Transport specimen within two hours when kept at room temperature or within 24 hours when refrigerated.
Source: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis.
A series of fact sheets distributed and posted prominently reinforced staff awareness of proper procedures for minimizing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.Subscribe Now for Access
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