Good practices for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia in the emergency department

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the conformity of the set of good practices for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the emergency department of a university hospital. Method: A cross-sectional analytical study with a quantitative approach, conducted in a university hospital in the city of São Paulo. The study sample consisted of opportunities for care observations that comprise the set of good practices for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia provided to intubated patients hospitalized in the emergency department. Results: A total of 209 observations were performed in 42 patients. Of the hospitalized patients, 23.8% developed VAP, and 52.4% died. Of the five recommended measures for preventing VAP, only two presented compliance above 50%. Conclusion: The care provided to patients is not in line with what is recommended in the literature, which demonstrates the need for periodic renewal of the team’s educational practices and the development of auditing projects to ensure improvements in the care process.