Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant healthcare-associated infection. Compliance with VAP guidelines reduces infection and leads to better patient outcomes. AIM: The study investigated the VAP rate, nurses' compliance with the VAP bundle and the correlation between nurses' compliance with the VAP bundle and key patient-related outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This descriptive correlational prospective study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals. All intensive care unit patients on mechanical ventilators who met the inclusion criteria for 48 h or more were recruited. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, independent t-test and Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: Out of the 103 patients recruited, 22.3% of patients developed VAP, with a VAP rate of 5.6 per thousand ventilator days. Nurses' compliance with VAP guidelines in both hospitals was 69% and decreased over the admission period. Compliance with the VAP bundle was linked to less length of stay (rho = -0.260, p < .008), fewer mechanical ventilation days (rho = -0.300, p < .002) and less hospital cost (rho = -0.266, p < .007). The mean compliance with the VAP care bundle was higher in the non-VAP group (M = 72.9, SD = 23.79) than in patients who developed VAP (M = 56.6, SD = 18.96). CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the critical need for healthcare organizations to prioritize strategies to enhance compliance with VAP guidelines for improved patient outcomes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Ongoing quality improvement efforts through regular audits of the VAP bundle implementation are crucial for reducing infections and complications and improving patient outcomes. Future research is recommended to investigate factors that impact nurses' adherence to VAP guidelines to develop interventions to enhance compliance.