Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
(VAP)
Information for patients and families
Read this booklet to learn:
• what VAP is
• what we do to reduce the risk of VAP
• what you can do to help
Please visit the UHN Patient Education website for more health information: www.uhnpatienteducation.ca
© 2013 University Health Network. All rights reserved.
This information is to be used for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional
medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific
medical condition. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for non-commercial personal use only.
Author: Brenda Ridley
Created: 11/2010
Form: D-5698 (02/2014)
UHN
What is ventilator-associated pneumonia?
Sometimes when patients are admitted to the hospital, they can get infections.
These are called hospital acquired infections. Ventilator-associated pneumonia
(VAP) is one type of hospital acquired infection.
Pneumonia is a common lung infection for many people. Pneumonia can cause
coughing, fever, chest pain and breathing problems. VAP can sometimes happen in
people who are being cared for in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU).
VAP may happen in ICU patients who:
• need a breathing tube and help from a breathing machine (ventilator) for
more than 48 hours
• need the breathing machine for only a few hours during the day or for a
longer time (for example, 24 hours a day)
2
Why does VAP happen in patients who are in the ICU?
VAP can happen in patients in ICUs for many reasons. Two of these reasons are:
• Patients who need help from a breathing machine have changes in their
reflexes (natural reactions) to cough, yawn and breathe deeply. This can
cause fluids to gather in their lungs. Bacteria (germs) can grow in this fluid
and make it easier for a lung infection to happen.
• The normal immune system (your body’s way of keeping you healthy) has
changed for patients who are very sick and in the ICU. This can cause their
risk of getting VAP to increase.
What are the University Health Network ICU teams doing to
reduce the risk of VAP?
The ICU teams at the University Health Network (UHN) work to lower the risk of
VAP for every patient in their care. Some of the ways they do this are by:
1. Raising the head of the bed
The ICU team will raise the head of the bed 30 to 45 degrees
for all patients on a breathing machine. This will lower the risk
of fluids travelling to your loved one’s lungs and reduce the
risk of VAP.
2. Cleaning patients’ mouths
You will see members of the health care team brushing your
loved one’s teeth or cleaning inside of their mouth. They use
an antiseptic (cleaner) to help decrease the growth of bacteria
and lower the risk of VAP.
3
3. Removing extra fluid
It is normal for saliva to collect inside the mouth, back of the throat and
breathing tube. As this fluid collects and sits, it can grow bacteria that may
cause VAP.
A member of the health care team may remove this fluid from your loved
one using a special catheter (tube). It may make your loved one cough when
this fluid is removed.
4. Decreasing stomach acid
A patient on a breathing machine can’t eat or drink in the usual
way. To help, a small flexible tube is placed in through their
nose and into their stomach. This tube is used to give liquid
food and medicine until your loved one can eat normally again.
Your loved one will get medicine to help lower the amount of
acid in their stomach. Stomach acid can reflux (go back up) into
your loved one’s lungs, which can put them at risk of getting VAP.
5. Checking to see if the breathing machine is still needed
Your loved one will receive medicines to make it easier for
them to rest and be as comfortable as possible while on a
breathing machine.
It will be up to the health care team to decide when your
loved one is ready to stop using the breathing machine.
To help them decide, the team may stop the medicines. This will help
them see how well your loved one can wake up and breathe without the
breathing machine.
4
What can I do to help lower the chance of VAP?
Please wash your hands. The best way to help your loved one is to clean your
hands:
• before entering their hospital room
• after touching anything in the room
• when you leave their room
You can use the hand sanitizers (cleaners) that are placed in many areas in the
hospital.
The members of the health care team will also clean their hands before and after
caring for your loved one.
Who can I talk to if I have any questions?
If you have any questions about VAP, please feel free to talk to a member of the
health care team.
5