Design and content validation of a checklist about infection-prevention performance of intensive care nurses in simulation-based scenarios.

OBJECTIVE: To design, develop and validate a new tool, called NEUMOBACT, to evaluate critical care nurses' knowledge and skills in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and catheter-related bacteraemia (CRB) prevention through simulation scenarios involving central venous catheter (CVC), endotracheal suctioning (ETS) and mechanically ventilated patient care (PC) stations. BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training is an excellent way for nurses to learn prevention measures in VAP and CRB. DESIGN: Descriptive metric study to develop NEUMOBACT and analyse its content and face validity that followed the COSMIN Study Design checklist for patient-reported outcome measurement instruments. METHODS: The first version was developed with the content of training modules in use at the time (NEUMOBACT-1). Delphi rounds were used to assess item relevance with experts in VAP and CRB prevention measures, resulting in NEUMOBACT-2. Experts in simulation methods then assessed feasibility, resulting in NEUMOBACT-3. Finally, a pilot test was conducted among 30 intensive care unit (ICU) nurses to assess the applicability of the evaluation tool in clinical practice. RESULTS: Seven national experts in VAP and CRB prevention and seven national simulation experts participated in the analysis to assess the relevance and feasibility of each item, respectively. After two Delphi rounds with infection experts, four Delphi rounds with simulation experts, and pilot testing with 30 ICU nurses, the NEUMOBACT-FINAL tool consisted of 17, 26 and 21 items, respectively, for CVC, ETS and PC. CONCLUSION: NEUMOBACT-FINAL is useful and valid for assessing ICU nurses' knowledge and skills in VAP and CRB prevention, acquired through simulation. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Our validated and clinically tested tool could facilitate the transfer of ICU nurses' knowledge and skills learning in VAP and CRB prevention to critically ill patients, decreasing infection rates and, therefore, improving patient safety. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Experts participated in the Delphi rounds and nurses in the pilot test.

Analysis of the Nursing Effect of Respiratory Critical Illness Based on Refined Nursing Management.

In order to improve the nursing effect of respiratory critical illness, this paper combines the refined nursing method to explore the nursing plan of respiratory critical illness. Moreover, this paper uses the variable control method to explore the effects of nursing management, combines the hospital patient samples to conduct a controlled trial analysis, and conducts sample grouping according to the random grouping method. The patients in the control group are managed by traditional nursing management methods, the patients in the test group are managed by refined nursing management methods, and other conditions are basically the same. In addition, the experiment process variable control is carried out according to the mathematical statistics method, and the reasonable statistics and data processing are carried out. Through the comparison method, we can see that the refined management method proposed in this paper has a good effect in the nursing of respiratory critical illness.

Original Research: Oral Care as Prevention for Nonventilator Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: A Four-Unit Cluster Randomized Study.

BACKGROUND: Nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) presents a serious and largely preventable threat to patient safety in U.S. hospitals. There is an emerging body of evidence on the effectiveness of oral care in preventing NV-HAP. PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a universal, standardized oral care protocol in preventing NV-HAP in the acute care setting. The primary outcome measure was NV-HAP incidence per 1,000 patient-days. METHODS: This 12-month study was conducted on four units at an 800-bed tertiary medical center. Patients on one medical and one surgical unit were randomly assigned to receive enhanced oral care (intervention units); patients on another medical and another surgical unit received usual oral care (control units). RESULTS: Total enrollment was 8,709. For the medical control versus intervention units, oral care frequency increased from a mean of 0.95 to 2.25 times per day, and there was a significant 85% reduction in the NV-HAP incidence rate. The odds of developing NV-HAP were 7.1 times higher on the medical control versus intervention units, a significant finding. For the surgical control versus intervention units, oral care frequency increased from a mean of 1.18 to 2.02 times per day, with a 56% reduction in the NV-HAP incidence rate. The odds of developing NV-HAP were 1.6 times higher on the surgical control versus intervention units, although this result did not reach significance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings add to the growing body of evidence that daily oral care as a means of primary source control may have a role in NV-HAP prevention. The implementation of effective strategies to ensure that such care is consistently provided warrants further study. It's not yet known what degree and frequency of oral care are required to effect favorable changes in the oral microbiome during acute care hospitalization.

Filling a Cavity in Dental Care.

About a decade ago, Dian Baker, a professor at Sacramento State School of Nursing, responded to a directive from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) asking health care practitioners to do something about the thorny and serious problem of ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia, which afflicts thousands of people each year. After consulting with colleagues on the issue, Baker noticed something interesting. Although hospital ventilators had been widely assumed to be the cause of this problem, the truth was that most people getting pneumonia in hospitals weren't on ventilators. The true culprit may come as a surprise: Nurses were shirking the unpleasant task of brushing the teeth of seriously ill patients.

Strategies for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia: an integrative review.

OBJECTIVE: to identify studies about strategies for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia deployed in health services and classify their level of evidence. METHOD: integrative review of the literature, in 7 databases, which included the following descriptors: Prevention and Control AND Pneumonia Ventilator-Associated AND Intensive Care Units AND Bundle AND Patient Care. RESULTS: twenty-three scientific productions were included. Of the preventive measures identified, 9 (39.1%) correspond from three to five strategies. The most frequent were: 22 (95.6%) lying with head elevated, 19 (82.6%) oral hygiene with chlorhexidine and 14 (60.8%) reduction of sedation whenever possible. FINAL CONSIDERATION: the application of measures based on scientific evidence is proven to be effective when carried out in conjunction, impacting the reduction of the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Strategies for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia: an integrative review / Estrategias para la prevención de la neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica: revisión integrativa / Estratégias para prevenção de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica: revisão integrative

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify studies about strategies for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia deployed in health services and classify their level of evidence. Method: integrative review of the literature, in 7 databases, which included the following descriptors: Prevention and Control AND Pneumonia Ventilator-Associated AND Intensive Care Units AND Bundle AND Patient Care. Results: twenty-three scientific productions were included. Of the preventive measures identified, 9 (39.1%) correspond from three to five strategies. The most frequent were: 22 (95.6%) lying with head elevated, 19 (82.6%) oral hygiene with chlorhexidine and 14 (60.8%) reduction of sedation whenever possible. Final Consideration: the application of measures based on scientific evidence is proven to be effective when carried out in conjunction, impacting the reduction of the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar estudios sobre estrategias de prevención de neumonía asociadas a la ventilación mecánica implantadas en servicios de salud y clasificar el nivel de evidencia de los mismos. Método: revisión integrativa de la literatura, en 7 bases de datos, que incluyó los siguientes descriptores: Prevention and Control AND Pneumonia Ventilator-Associated AND Intensive Care Units AND Bundle AND Patient Care. Resultados: Se incluyeron 23 producciones científicas. Entre los conjuntos de medidas de prevención identificados, 9 (39,1%) contemplan entre tres a cinco estrategias. Fueron las más frecuentes: el decúbito elevado, 22 (95,6%); la higiene oral con clorhexidina, 19 (82,6%); y la reducción de la sedación siempre que sea posible, 14 (60,8%). Consideraciones Finales: La aplicación de medidas basadas en evidencias científicas es comprobadamente eficaz cuando se aplica en conjunto, impactando en la reducción de la densidad de incidencia de neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar estudos acerca de estratégias de prevenção de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica implantadas em serviços de saúde e classificar o nível de evidência destes. Método: revisão integrativa da literatura, em sete bases de dados, incluindo os seguintes descritores: "Prevention and Control AND Pneumonia Ventilator-Associated AND Intensive Care Units AND Bundle AND Patient Care". Resultados: foram incluídas 23 produções científicas. Dentre os conjuntos de medidas de prevenção identificados, nove (39,1%) contemplam de três a cinco estratégias. As mais frequentes foram: decúbito elevado - 22 (95,6%); higiene oral com clorexidina - 19 (82,6%); e redução da sedação sempre que possível - 14 (60,8%). Considerações Finais: a aplicação de medidas baseadas em evidências científicas são comprovadamente eficazes quando aplicadas em conjunto, impactando na redução da densidade de incidência de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica.

A Nurse-Driven Oral Care Protocol to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia.

: Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement (QI) project was to implement an oral care protocol in the adult in-patient care areas of a level 1 trauma hospital and to evaluate its impact on the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). METHODS: A standardized, evidence-based oral care protocol was implemented depending on the level of care required by each ventilated, at-risk, or short-term care patient. The QI project included the introduction of a new suction toothbrush kit for at-risk patients and, for short-term patients, a new short-term oral care kit that featured a more ergonomically appropriate toothbrush, a baking soda toothpaste, and an alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwash; the project also supported the continued use of the then current suction toothbrush kit for patients receiving mechanical ventilation. We examined medical records retrospectively and used International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9 and ICD 10 codes for pneumonia not present on admission to determine the incidence of HAP, including nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), in two seven-month periods: the baseline and intervention periods. Both periods were in the same seven calendar months of two different years to control for seasonal differences in pneumonia rates. Documentation of oral care interventions were compared with oral care supply use reports to measure protocol adherence in the intervention group. RESULTS: There were 202 patients in the baseline group and 215 in the intervention group. A χ(2) analysis of NV-HAP incidence showed a statistically significant decrease in occurrences of NV-HAP from 52 in the baseline group to 26 in the intervention group (χ(2) = 12.8, df = 1, P < 0.001). The number of patient deaths from NV-HAP also differed significantly between groups, with 20 in the baseline group and four in the intervention group (χ(2) = 4.33, df = 1, P = 0.037). NV-HAP incidence per 1,000 discharges was calculated at 2.84 in the baseline group and 1.41 in the intervention group. Among patients on a ventilator, there were 56 ventilatorassociated events (VAEs) with 12 cases of VAP in the baseline group and 49 VAEs and three cases of VAP in the intervention group. Infection rates in the baseline group were calculated as 12.53 VAEs per 1,000 ventilator days and 2.87 cases of VAP per 1,000 ventilator days. The intervention group yielded a VAE rate of 14.29 per 1,000 ventilator days and a VAP rate of 1.26 per 1,000 ventilator days. Overall, nurses' adherence to the new oral care protocol ranged from 36% to 100% per month, with an average adherence to protocol of 76% as evidenced by oral care documentation and supply use. IMPLICATIONS: Nurses improved pneumonia outcomes by providing oral health interventions to all adult patients admitted to the hospital, which reduced overall hospital costs, length of stay, and patient mortality.

Prevenção da pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica sob a ótica de acadêmicos de enfermagem / Prevention of pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation under the optics of nursing academics / Prevención de la pneumonia asociada a la ventilación mecánica bajo la óptica de académicos de enfermeira

Objetivo: Descrever o conhecimento dos acadêmicos concluintes do curso de Enfermagem sobre a prevenção de Pneumonia Associada à Ventilação Mecânica e comparar esse conhecimento entre esses acadêmicos nos anos de 2013 e 2016. Método: Pesquisa de natureza quantitativa, realizada com 59 acadêmicos concluintes de uma instituição pública de ensino superior, que responderam um questionário estruturado. Resultados: Observou-se que as principais respostas assertivas foram intervenções referentes à higienização das mãos (94,9%), sedação do paciente (89,8%), higiene oral (86,4%) e posição da sonda nasoentérica (83%). A Turma 2013 apresentou melhor conhecimento em relação à Turma 2016(p<0,05).Conclusão: Concluiu-se que os alunos podem estar completando o curso com noção básica dos cuidados para a prevenção da Pneumonia Associada à Ventilação Mecânica, e alguns cuidados inobservados constituem um resultado necessário de ser reavaliado, precisando de um planejamento curricular das instituições de ensino que facilite o processo de ensino-aprendizado

Objective: To describe the knowledge of the nursing undergraduate students about the prevention of Pneumonia associated with Mechanical Ventilation and to compare this knowledge among these students in the years of 2013 and 2016. Method: Quantitative research carried out with 59 graduate students of an institution of higher education, who answered a structured questionnaire. Results: The main assertive responses were hand hygiene (94.9%), patient sedation (89.8%), oral hygiene (86.4%) and nasoenteric catheter position (83%). The Turma 2013 presented better knowledge regarding the Class of 2016 (p <0.05). Conclusions: It was concluded that students may be completing the course with a basic notion of care for the prevention of Pneumonia associated with Mechanical Ventilation, and some unobserved care are a necessary result of being reevaluated, requiring a curricular planning of the educational institutions that Facilitate the teaching-learning process

Objetivo: Describir el conocimiento de los académicos concluyentes del curso de Enfermería sobre la prevención de Neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica y comparar ese conocimiento entre estos acadêmicos en los años 2013 y 2016. Metodo: Investigación de naturaleza cuantitativa, realizada con 59 académicos concluyentes de una institución Pública, que respondieron un cuestionario estructurado. Resultados: Se observó que las principales respuestas fueron intervenciones referentes a la higienización de las manos (94,9%), sedación del paciente (89,8%), higiene oral (86,4%) y posición de la sonda nasoentérica (83%). La clase 2013 presentó mejor conocimiento en relación a la Clase 2016 (p <0,05). Conclusiones: Se concluyó que los alumnos pueden estar completando el curso con noción básica de los cuidados para la prevención de la Neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica, y algunos cuidados inobservados constituyen resultado necesario de ser reevaluado, precisando de una planificación curricular de las instituciones que facilita el enseñanza-aprendizaje

The Effects of Oral Care Protocol on the Incidence of Ventilation-Associated Pneumonia in Selected Intensive Care Units in Jordan.

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the effects of oral care protocol on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) at selected intensive care units (ICUs) in Jordan using clinical pulmonary infection score. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was used, and 1 large teaching hospital from the Jordanian capital, along with 2 hospitals from the southern region, was selected. A total of 218 patients participated, among which VAP risk in 2 independent groups was evaluated through the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score sheet. RESULTS: The VAP incidence rate was significantly lower in the intervention group (n = 102) as compared with control group (n = 116) (21.6 vs 35.3, respectively; P = .018); in addition, ICU stay and intubation period were significantly shorter among the intervention group. A higher risk of VAP was independently predicted by previous lung diseases (odds ratio [OR], 1.441; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.185-1.88), open suctioning system (OR, 2.536; 95% CI, 1.261-5.101), and duration of intubation (OR, 1.770; 95% CI, 0.845-2.220). The oral care protocol has effectively improved ventilated patients' oral health, which has statistically reduced the incidence of VAP. It occurred more frequently among patients who have lung disease and those who were intubated for more than 7 days and have an open suctioning system. CONCLUSION: Health care teams should ensure that effective care protocol is implemented among patients.

Pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica: conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde acerca da prevenção e medidas educativas / Ventilator-associated pneumonia: the knowledge of health professionals towards prevention and educational measures / La neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica: el conocimiento de los profesionales de la salud acerca de las medidas de prevención y educación

Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde sobre a prevenção da Pneumonia Associada à Ventilação Mecânica (PAVM) em pacientes críticos internados nas Unidades de Terapia Intensiva (UTIs) e, promover educação permanente (EP) para profissionais das UTIs sobre prevenção de PAVM. Métodos: Estudo transversal, quanti-qualitativo. Os dados foram coletados, entre agosto e outubro de 2015, através de um questionário e analisados através dos Softwares Microsoft Excel 2013 e Epi Info 7. Participaram da pesquisa 28 profissionais de saúde. Resultados: 43% afirmou ter conhecimento sobre bundle de prevenção; 36% citaram já terem participado de algum treinamento sobre a temática; 96% manifestou interesse em receber algum treinamento específico; apenas 25% responderam corretamente a pressão ideal do cuff; 96% afirmou avaliar, diariamente, a retirada da sedação. Após a análise, foi realizada uma EP com os profissionais

Objetivo: Evaluar los conocimientos de los profesionales sanitarios en la prevención de la neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica (NAV) en pacientes críticamente enfermos en unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y promueven la formación permanente (EP) para los profesionales de la UCI sobre la prevención de la NAV. Métodos: Estudio transversal, cuantitativo y cualitativo. Los datos fueron recogidos entre agosto y octubre de 2015, mediante un cuestionario y analizados mediante el software de Microsoft Excel 2013 y Epi Info 7. Búsqueda de 28 profesionales de la salud participaron. Resultados: el 43% afirmó tener conocimiento sobre la prevención del haz; 36% informó haber participado en algún tipo de formación sobre el tema; 96% expresó su interés en recibir formación específica; sólo el 25% respondió correctamente la presión del manguito ideales; 96% dijo que evaluaban la eliminación diaria de la sedación. Después del análisis, EP se realizó con los profesionales. Conclusión: Se ha demostrado que existe una debilidad en el conocimiento de los profesionales en la prevención de la NAV

Objective: The study's purpose has been to assess the knowledge of health professionals with regards to the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs), and also to promote Continuing Education (CE) for ICUs' professionals on VAP prevention. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study with a both quantitative and qualitative approach. Data were collected from August to October 2015 through a questionnaire, and subsequently analyzed by the Microsoft Excel 2013 and the Epi Info 7 softwares. The study was carried out by 28 health professionals. Results: 43% reported being knowledgeable about prevention bundle; 36% mentioned that they had participated in some training on the topic; 96% showed some interest in receiving specific training; Only 25% gave the correct answer with regards to the ideal cuff pressure; 96% said they assessed daily withdrawal from sedation. After analysis, a CE was performed with the professionals. Conclusion: It was evidenced that there is some insubstantiality in the professionals' knowledge concerning the VAP prevention

Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in newborns.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to optimize the prevention of the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia in newborns by developing a method for tracheal rehabilitation and assessment of its effectiveness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: A prospective cohort randomized clinical study was organized, particularly artificial ventilation of the lungs was conducted on 90 newborns. Patients were divided into two groups. In the main group (n = 50) an intubation tube of author's design was used, which design allowed prophylactic tracheal sanation on the outer wall of the intubation tube, which included vacuum aspiration of the tracheal secretion and irrigation with a solution of antiseptic decamethoxin 0.02% every 3 hours. In the comparative group (n = 40) the classical non-cuff structure of the intubation tube was used; preventive tracheal sanation on the outer wall of the intubation tube was not carried out. RESULTS: Results and conclusions: Preventive tracheal sanation on the outer surface of the intubation tube in newborns units that undergo artificial ventilation of the lungs exhibit high efficiency against the main types of microorganisms that are dangerous from the point of view of the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia. The use of prophylactic tracheal sanitization in newborns - patients of neonatal intensive care units, which undergoes artificial ventilation of the lungs, can significantly lower the frequency of the implementation of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Development, validation and application of a ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention checklist in a single cardiac surgery centre.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop, validate and apply a ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention checklist in a single cardiac surgery centre. METHODS: An initial checklist was designed based on the published care bundles for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia; the Delphi method used for validation. A total of 20 experts were invited to score the items and give suggestions for the checklist. The final checklist was then applied to patients receiving cardiac surgery. Non-compliance with the protocol and outcome indicators were observed. RESULTS: Two rounds of Delphi were conducted. The final one-page checklist consisted of three main parts: (1) demographic data of the patient receiving cardiac surgery; (2) general assessment of the patient (3) checklist of prevention measures. The average time to complete the checklist was between two and four minutes. After the application of the checklist, the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia decreased from 14.48 to 5.47 episodes per thousand ventilator hours. In patients requiring >48 hours mechanical ventilation, the ventilator-associated pneumonia rate and duration of ventilation was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: A checklist was developed for ventilator associated pneumonia based on care bundles and validated using the Delphi method. The checklist appeared to be a useful tool in preventing ventilator associated pneumonia and shortening the ventilation time.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia and suction: a review of the literature.

AIM: to identify the most effective suctioning technique for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. BACKGROUND: ventilator-associated pneumonia is an important hospital-acquired infection associated with increased mortality and morbidity. METHOD: a rapid review included an electronic database search of articles published between January 2009 and March 2016. The quality of the seven included studies was appraised and data were subjected to tabular and narrative syntheses. RESULTS: closed suction systems have no clear advantage over open suction, but may better prevent late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia. Subglottic secretion drainage reduces ventilator-associated pneumonia incidence. CONCLUSION: open versus closed suction combined with subglottic secretion drainage requires ongoing research. Alongside this, policy guidance, education, behavioural and managerial strategies must be implemented.

Compliance of Nurses and Hospitals With Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Prevention Guidelines: A Middle Eastern Survey.

This study was a self-reported cross-sectional survey that investigated nurses' and hospitals' compliance with ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention guidelines and the barriers and factors that affect their level of compliance. A questionnaire was completed by 471 intensive care unit nurses from 16 medical centers in 3 Middle Eastern countries: Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The results show that both nurses and hospitals have insufficient compliance. Previous education, experience, and academic degree were all found to affect nurses' compliance.

[Nursing sensitive outcomes and staffing: a review on healthcare associated infection]. / Esiti sensibili alle cure infermieristiche e staffing:le infezioni correlate all'assistenza.Revisione della letteratura.

. Nursing sensitive outcomes and staffing: a review on healthcare associated infection. INTRODUCTION: Healthcare associated infections (HAI) continue to be an unresolved problem in hospital settings. AIM: To assess the relationship between nurse staffing and healthcare associated infections in different settings. METHODS: From April to May 2015 a review of literature was conducted consulting PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Library. RESULTS: An increased amount of Registered Nurse Hours Per Patient Day (RNHPPD) and nurse-to-patient ratio was associated to a decreased occurrence of HAI. In particular an increase of RNHPPD was associated to a reduction of postoperative (OR 0.83, IC95% 0.0.70-0.99), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (OR 0.21, IC95% 0.08-0.53). Even the number of urinary tract infections (-34%) and sepsis (OR 0.54, IC95%: 0.31-0.92) decreased significantly. The most significant results associated to an increase of HPPD were obtained in intensive care units. CONCLUSIONS: The review showed the correlations between nurse staffing and the most frequent HAIs. Nursing managers should be aware of the adequate nurse-to-patient ratios and skill-mix in order to inform decision making and improve the quality and safety of patients care.

Normal saline instillation before endotracheal suctioning: "What does the evidence say? What do the nurses think?": Multimethod study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to systematically review studies that investigated the effects of normal saline instillation before endotracheal suctioning and to determine the views of nurses concerning this procedure. METHODS: This study was carried out in 2 stages as a systematic review and a descriptive study. In the first stage, the Medline and CINAHL databases were searched. The second stage of the study consisted of a survey of 65 intensive care nurses. RESULTS: The systematic review identified 7 studies. Nearly all of the studies had a self-controlled clinical trial design. Normal saline instillation before endotracheal suctioning was demonstrated to decrease patient oxygenation in most studies (P < .05). However, the impact of normal saline on hemodynamics and the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia remain unclear. Most nurses (87.7%) apply normal saline instillation. CONCLUSION: Although the effects of normal saline instillation on hemodynamics and pneumonia incidence remain controversial, this procedure significantly decreases the oxygenation. Therefore, the use of this procedure is not recommended. However, normal saline instillation is used frequently by nurses to manage thick and tenacious secretions in clinical practice. Additional studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of applications that may be alternatives to normal saline instillation in the management of these secretions.

The survey on implementation of evidence-based nursing in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia and the effect observation.

The objective is to survey the effect of evidence-based nursing (EBN) in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia and to observe the effect, providing a reference for clinical nursing intervention. 146 patients with mechanical ventilator were included and randomly divided into control group (n = 73) and observation group (n = 73). Patients in control group received conventional nursing method, and patients in observation group received EBN according to the nursing principles. The questions were raised and the literatures were retrieved to formulate the optimum nursing strategy according to clinical experience and patient need. After nursing, morbidity of VAP in observation group was significantly lower than control group, and length of stay, length of stay in ICU, and the duration of mechanical ventilation were also significantly lower than control group; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). After nursing, the physiological function, physical role, somatic pain, and mental health scores in observation group were significantly higher than control group (P < 0.05). Oral hygiene status in observation group was significantly better than control group; the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After nursing, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in two groups were both decreased (P < 0.05); IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in observation group were significantly lower than control group (P < 0.05). When patients were discharged, satisfaction degree in observation group was significantly higher than control group; the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The implementation of EBN can effectively prevent the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and improve the clinical nursing quality, which is worthy of clinical application.