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Prevention
Preventing Ventilator-Associated Infections
Preventing Ventilator-Associated InfectionsPage 1 of 2NarratorYou may feel helpless when your loved one is on a machine that helps patients who cannot breathe ontheir own. Ventilators can be lifesaving, but they can also increase a patient’s chance of getting aninfection.Vicki Brinsko, RNThe longer the patient has this tube going from their mouth or nose into their throat and into their lungs,the more likely it is that bacteria can ride down that little highway and get into their lungs and cause aninfection.NarratorThere are steps that can be taken to help prevent infection.Vicki Brinsko, RNWhat the nurses and doctors do is they make sure the patient who is on a ventilator gets propped up at a45-degree angle and makes sure that the secretions do not pool in the back of their throats; that they canbe inadvertently aspirated into the lungs.NarratorIn addition, everyone who comes in contact with the patient: doctors, nurses, and visitors alike, mustwash or sanitize their hands properly before the patient or ventilator is touched.Talk to the doctor about allowing your loved one to briefly wake up to help get their lungs working.Vicki Brinsko, RNOne of the other methods that they use to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia is what they callsedation vacations. And this is a little bit of weaning that occurs where they let up off of the sedation tosee if the patient can breathe on their own.NarratorHaving someone you love on a ventilator can be difficult. But you can help by being aware of the risksand making sure hospital personnel take the appropriate precautions.© The Wellness NetworkPage 2 of 2
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