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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
04:32
Murine Oropharyngeal Aspiration Model of Ventilator-associated and Hospital-acquired Bacterial Pneumonia
Published on: June 28, 2018
Nurses' knowledge and application of evidence-based guidelines for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia
G Biancofiore1, E Barsotti, V Catalani
1Transplant and Postsurgical Intensive Care Unit, Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine Unit 1, Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy. g.biancofiore@med.unipi.it
Minerva Anestesiologica
|November 23, 2006
Summary
Nurses widely apply ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention strategies, but often lack informed knowledge. Continuous training and protocol involvement are crucial for effective VAP prevention in intensive care units (ICUs).
Area of Science:
- Nursing Research
- Infectious Disease Prevention
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant healthcare-associated infection in intensive care units (ICUs).
- Effective implementation of non-pharmacological prevention strategies is critical for reducing VAP incidence.
- Nurses play a pivotal role in the application of these preventive measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess nurses' knowledge regarding VAP and its prevention strategies.
- To identify barriers hindering the implementation of evidence-based VAP prevention guidelines.
- To evaluate the extent of application of non-pharmacological VAP prevention strategies by nurses.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study design was employed.
- A questionnaire was administered to 106 nurses in the ICUs of a major Italian hospital.
- The questionnaire assessed knowledge of 21 non-pharmacological VAP prevention strategies and reasons for non-adherence.
Main Results:
- Only 22.6% of 84 respondents felt knowledgeable about VAP prevention; 54.8% reported poor knowledge.
- 80.9% of nurses applied at least one VAP prevention strategy, while 17.9% applied none.
- Key barriers to implementation included protocols not foreseen (31.5%), lack of resources (14.3%), and disagreement with methods (3.2%).
Conclusions:
- Nurses widely apply VAP preventive strategies, but often without a comprehensive understanding or informed approach.
- There is a need for continuous education and training for nurses on VAP prevention.
- Involving nurses in the development and updating of departmental protocols and guidelines is essential for improving VAP prevention practices.
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