Evaluation of Emergency Department Evidence-Based Practices to Prevent the Incidence of Ventilator-Acquired Pneumonia

Pathogens in the oropharynx may be transported to the lung parenchyma during intubation and cause ventilator-acquired pneumonia. This project evaluated 3 post intubation evidence-based practices in the emergency department: oral care, head-of-bed elevation, and suctioning above the endotracheal tube balloon. Ventilator-acquired pneumonia cases decreased 83% after implementing these practices. There is no need to wait for the patient to be admitted to intensive care to begin these evidence-based practices.