Protocol Summary
Revision Date: November 2011
Fifth Edition
Scope and Target Population
This protocol covers the protocol and orders around patient care management for the prevention of ventilatorassociated pneumonia. The ventilator bundle includes the following components: elevation of the head of the bed, daily "sedation vacation" and assessment of readiness to extubate, stress ulcer disease prophylaxis, and deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis. The first components are directed at preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia, and the last two are directed at preventing other complications associated with mechanical ventilation. This protocol does not include admission orders to the intensive care unit or other specific orders for the patient's condition outside of ventilator management.
Aims
1. Eliminate ventilator-associated pneumonia in adult patients in an intensive care unit.
2. Increase the use of ventilator-associated pneumonia bundle in all ventilated patients in an intensive care unit.
Clinical Highlights
• Reliably implement the ventilator bundle (set of interventions).