Effect of Compliance to Ventilator Bundle Care in Decreasing Ventilator-associated Pneumonia Rates in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Purpose Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can be achieved by a group of evidence-based interventions known as the “VAP bundle.” In this study, we observed the effect of increasing compliance to bundle care in reducing VAP rates. Methods We did a quality improvement (QI) study in an outborn level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) enrolling 95 neonates less than 28 days of life; and receiving ventilator care for more than 2 days of hospitalization in NICU. A standardized VAP bundle was implemented with the goal of decreasing VAP rates in NICU. A total of 45 neonates were enrolled in the pre-bundle study group (Group I) and 50 in post-bundle study group (Group II). Results Average bundle compliance increased to 62.26 ± 8.31% in Group II from a baseline compliance value of 52.6 ± 6.87% in Group I ( P < .05). VAP rate was reduced from 37.6 per 1000 MV days (Mechanical Ventilation days) to 25.5 per 1000 MV days ( P < .05). Conclusion Increased compliance to ventilator bundle care leads to a decreased VAP rate resulting in shortening of the MV days per case, decreasing duration of hospital stay, and reducing antibiotic course duration, thereby better employing the health care resources in neonatal care.