Basic nursing care to prevent nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Nursing Science

Background:

• Nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) is a significant, yet understudied, cause of patient morbidity and healthcare costs.
• Effective prevention strategies for NV-HAP are crucial for improving patient outcomes and hospital efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of NV-HAP in a sample of U.S. hospitals.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of enhanced basic oral nursing care in reducing NV-HAP rates.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental study design utilizing retrospective comparative outcomes.
• NV-HAP diagnosis was verified using ICD-9 codes and CDC criteria.
• An evidence-based oral care initiative was implemented, guided by the Influencer Model and participatory action research.

Main Results:

• A 38.8% decrease in NV-HAP incidence per 100 patient days was observed after implementing oral care protocols.
• The overall number of NV-HAP cases reduced by 37% during the 12-month intervention period.
• The intervention resulted in an estimated 8 lives saved, $1.72 million in avoided costs, and 500 hospital days averted, with a significant return on investment.

Conclusions:

• NV-HAP warrants increased attention and preventative efforts comparable to ventilator-associated pneumonia.
• Nursing leadership is essential in developing and implementing policies for effective NV-HAP prevention, ensuring adequate resources and monitoring.