Translating guidelines into practice: ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention strategies in an acute rehabilitation unit.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia has significant mortality (33%-50%). The highest risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia is early in mechanical ventilation with an increase in morbidity and mortality seen with late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia. Prevention strategies have been recommended for acute care facilities, but there is lack of evidence-based data and recommendations for acute rehabilitation units. A multidisciplinary team designed an evidence-based ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention policy based on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement ventilator bundle. Education of rehabilitation staff and implementation of the protocol were done. Results showed that the ventilator-associated pneumonia rate decreased from 7.5 to 0 per 1000 patient ventilator days. Translating evidence-based guidelines into practice can be accomplished using a multidisciplinary team.