Healthcare-associated Infections

Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP)

Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a lung infection that develops in a person who is on a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine that is used to help a patient breathe by giving oxygen through a tube placed in a patient’s mouth or nose, or through a hole in the front of the neck. An infection may occur if germs enter through the tube and get into the patient’s lungs. CDC provides guidelines and tools to the healthcare community to help end ventilator-associated pneumonia and resources to help the public understand these infections and take measures to safeguard their own health when possible.

Resources for Patients and Healthcare Providers

FAQs about Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP)
October 2008 Supplement of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (Volume 29, Number S1)

FAQ's about Ventilator-associated Pneumonia

8.5" by 11" flyer is available in the following formats:

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Prevention

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Prevention Resources for State Health Departments

Collaboration Primer: Establishing HAI Prevention Collaboratives
Collaboration Primer [PPT - 920 KB] available in PowerPoint format.

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Monitoring VAP

CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network Patient Safety Component includes surveillance methods to identify and track device-associated infections, such as central-line associated bloodstream infections. [More…]

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