title: Breathing easier in the intensive care unit. Pneumonia.
abstract: Pneumonia, whether it is community-acquired, hospital-acquired, or ventilator-acquired, has a high incidence with associated high morbidity and mortality. The continuing emergence of resistant organisms is an indication that appropriate measures are still not effective or are not being used effectively to control the incidence of HAP and VAP as well as evidence of the overuse of antibiotics. Nurses are key in identifying patients at risk and instituting preventive measures. Continuing issues are the use of an adequate handwashing technique and elevation of the head of the bed for prevention of HAP and VAP and immunization of all patients at risk for CAP. Effective interventions can be evaluated by following best practices, using quality and process improvement methodology, and measuring appropriate outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, USA. kellstrom@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ellstrom
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D019985:Benchmarking; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019091:Critical Pathways; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003663:Decision Trees; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index