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Article: Fighting and managing ventilator-associated pneumonia.(Infection Protection)
- Article from:
- Healthcare Purchasing News
- Article date:
- August 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Healthcare Purchasing News. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Pneumonia is the second most common nosocomial infection, following urinary tract infection, and is the leading cause of nosocomial-related mortality. (1-3) Nosocomial pneumonia is defined as an infection that is caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal pathogens and occurs 48 hours or more after hospital admission. (3)
Significant risk factors for developing nosocomial pneumonia include surgery (particularly high abdominal or thoracic), chronic lung disease, advanced age, and immunosuppressive chemotherapy. (1) Patients who require mechanical ventilator support are at substantially higher risk of developing pneumonia. (4) Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a ...