Could a risk-assessment tool prevent hospital-acquired pneumonia?

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) has been shown to be the second most common healthcare-acquired infection (HCAI) after urinary tract infection and linked to more than half of all deaths from HCAIs. Preventing the infection could potentially save many lives. The author therefore proposes that HAP could be prevented by the implementation of a risk-assessment tool. A hypothetical risk-assessment tool is discussed. Several potential risk factors are proposed; however, further research into these risk factors and the appropriate weighting to give these in developing such a tool is required.