Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP)
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the leading cause of death among hospital-acquired infections and the second-most common infection in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. The impact of VAP on the Canadian healthcare system is significant: It increases healthcare costs, morbidity rates and the duration of mechanical ventilation. Increasing interventions will save lives and healthcare dollars.
Articles
Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the Calgary Health Region: A Canadian Success Story! 
Healthcare Quarterly 11(Sp) 2008: 129-136. This article describes the experience of the Calgary health region in implementing several improvement interventions, including a VAP bundle, to decrease the incidence of VAP. 
Evidence-Based Summary for Appropriate Duration of Antimicrobial Therapy: Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia 
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, May 2010. This article describes the results of a randomized control trial of 197 patients with VAP who were placed on antibiotic therapy. Reprinted with permission from ISMP Canada.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
The Canadian Patient Safety Institute’s Safer Healthcare Now! initiative offers materials that highlight evidence-based practices and other intervention supports.
Standards
Standards for Critical Care Nursing in Ontario
Ontario Critical Care Secretariat, June 2006. This document outlines Ontario’s critical care nursing standards.
Getting Started Kit: Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Adults and Children—How-To Guide
Safer Healthcare Now!, April 2009. Best practice interventions for the prevention of VAP.
IHI Improvement Map: Ventilator Bundle
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). The IHI Improvement Map is an interactive tool that helps hospital leaders in the United States improve quality outcomes by guiding their improvement efforts.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia-Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections Collaborative
Canadian Patient Safety Institute. The Institute’s Safer Healthcare Now! archived faculty provides guidance in implementing patient safety improvement projects.
