Prevention of pneumonia in the hospital setting

Although the optimal approach to reducing VAP is unclear, recent studies indicate that mandatory education of health care workers caring for mechanically ventilated patients can decrease overall VAP rates [18]. Among the available interventions, shortening the duration of mechanical ventilation and providing measures to prevent the aspiration of contaminated secretions seem to be most important (Box 1). Given the evidence supporting greater morbidity, hospital mortality, and medical care costs among patients who have HAP/VAP, the prevention of this nosocomial infection should be an important priority in the hospital setting.