The effect of ventilator circuit change frequency on ventilator-associated pneumonia incidence / 中国综合临床

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effect of ventilator circuit change frequency on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Methods Patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU,Department of Emergency, Respiratory Department and Department of Neurosurgery from March 2008 to September 2010 were randomized into two groups. For these two groups ,the ventilator circuit was changed once or twice a week. The recorded parameters included the clinical symptoms and signs of the ventilated patients. Samples at different parts of the circuit were collected for microbiological detection. The data were analyzed statistically. Results The incidence of VAP was 28. 30% ( 13/53 ) in twice-a-week group and 35.84%( 19/53 ) in once-a-week group. There was no significant difference between the two groups. The rates for positive microbiological detection in the circuit were 48. 16% and 44. 49% for once-a-week and twice-a-week group,respectively. No significant difference was observed ( P ＞ 0.05 ). Moreover, there was no significant difference in terms of the microbiology positivity between different parts of the circuit(P ＞ 0. 05 ). Gram-negative bacteria were the main pathogen of VAP with Acinetobacter baumannii ranking at the top. Conclusion Frequency of Ventilator circuit change does not influence the incidence of VAP. We suggest that the frequency for ventilator circuit change should be once a week. At the same time, the nurse staff should be trained for specific technology and the incidence of hospital infection should be controlled at multiple rings of the chain.