Nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia does not afflict just elderly patients or patients in intensive care units — the infection actually occurs across all units in hospitals nationwide, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
For the study, researchers retroactively examined patient charts from 21 U.S. hospitals between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2014, to identify NV-HAP cases. Researchers also analyzed demographic data, patient outcomes and any preventive interventions the hospitals took.
Here are five study findings.
- Researchers identified 1,300 patients who acquired NV-HAP during the study period.
- Half of the NV-HAP cases occurred in patients age 65 and younger, both in and out of the surgical departments.
- About 70 percent of cases occurred outside of the ICU. Of these, 43.1 percent were acquired in medical-surgical departments, 8.5 percent in telemetry, 7.2 percent in progress care units, 4.9 percent in oncology and 2.8 percent in orthopedic.
- The other 27.3 percent of cases occurred in the ICU.
- Researchers found many hospitals lacked basic preventive measures to reduce the risk of patients acquiring NV-HAP. A majority of patients diagnosed with NV-HAP (81.8 percent) did not receive incentive spirometry, 67.4 percent did not practice cough and deep breathing exercises, and 58.6 percent did not receive oral care.
"Healthcare-acquired pneumonia is an under-appreciated HAI, causing patient harm, deaths, and excess healthcare costs," said 2018 APIC President Janet Haas, PhD, RN. "However, since this infection is often preventable through nursing care activities aimed at preventing aspiration, once we recognize this problem, we can improve. This study underscores the need to implement evidence-based practices known to prevent pneumonia throughout the hospital."