Impact on approach of ICU staff towards ventilator care bundles and infection control practices in prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) infections have high morbidity and mortality. The bundle care therapy for insertion and maintenance can prevent VAP effectively. Crucial steps being mouth care with Chlorhexidine and subglottic aspiration to prevent VAP. This study focuses on the attitude of ICU health care staff towards the implementation of the ventilator care bundle. Materials and Methods: The study is a descriptive and observational cross-sectional study using a structured self-administered questionnaire without any intervention, ascertained 150 Health care staff members of ICU around the clock. The analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: This study showed elevation of head in semi-recumbent position to have the highest acceptance frequency of 127 (84.7%) study participants. While implementation of spontaneous breathing trials had the lowest acceptance frequency of 74(49.4%) study participants. Most of the study participants have a general understanding of the steps to be taken for VAP prevention however only 39 study participants (26%) are sufficiently familiar with all the measures included in ventilator bundles when executed together are more efficient than if implemented individually. Conclusion: Due to this negative psychological attitude of ICU staff towards the implementation of the guidelines provided to them, the risk of VAP is ever-increasing suggesting a strict need for more training and education with responsibility towards improving the infection control practices on healthcare workers.