Nurses' Performance Regarding the Prevention of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Bundle in the Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent infection in patients admitted to ICUs, and is associated with an increase in days of ICU stay, morbidity and mortality. Prevention of VAP is much more cost effective than treatment, and VAP bundle have recommended measures to decrease the incidence of VAP that must implemented together to achieve better outcome. The prevention of VAP is primarily the responsibility of the intensive care nurses whose knowledge, and practices influence the health outcome of intensive care unit patients. Aim of the study: to assess nurses' performance regarding the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia bundle in the intensive care units through assessing nurses' knowledge, practice regarding prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia bundle in the intensive care units. Research design: A descriptive exploratory design was utilized. Methods: Subject include All available nurses working in intensive care units in Helioplis Hospital, 35 nurses from both genders, with different ages, educational levels and years of experience was selected for this study. Data were obtained through two main tools: 1) Self-administered questionnaire tool, 2)observational checklist. Results: Nurses had satisfactory knowledge and adequate practice. There were statistically significance relation between knowledge and practice. Knowledge and practice were found to differ significantly in relation to socio-demographic data. Conclusion: About more than half of the study nurses had satisfactory knowledge, more than half of them had adequate practice regarding prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia bundle. Recommendations: The need for establishing a protocol to ensure that VAP prevention protocol will be implemented consistently in all ICUs. The study should be replicated on large sample & in different hospitals setting in order to generalize the results.