Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Mar 2008
ReviewVentilator-associated pneumonia: Improving outcomes through guideline implementation.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is associated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation and increased risk of death for critically ill patients. Although scientific advances have the potential to improve the outcomes of critically ill patients who are at risk of or who have VAP, the translation of research knowledge on effective strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat VAP is not uniformly applied in practice in the intensive care unit. Knowledge about VAP may be used more effectively at the bedside by a systematic process of knowledge translation through implementation of clinical practice guidelines. Unfortunately, there remain large gaps in our understanding of guideline implementation in the intensive care unit, specifically as it applies to guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of VAP.
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Journal of critical care · Mar 2008
ReviewThe impact of ventilator-associated pneumonia on the Canadian health care system.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. It is associated with increased health care costs and duration of mechanical ventilation. Using published data and information from public health care providers, we sought to determine the impact of VAP on the Canadian health care system. ⋯ The impact of VAP on the Canadian health care system is considerable. Eradication of this preventable nosocomial infection would save lives and conserve scarce health care resources.