English abstract
Background:
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant healthcare-associated infection
that can increase mortality, length of stay, mechanical ventilation days, and healthcare
costs. Compliance with evidence-based VAP guidelines has been shown to reduce VAP
incidence and improve patient outcomes. More research must be done on compliance with
VAP guidelines and patient outcomes in Oman.
Aim:
This study examined the VAP rate, nurses’ compliance with the VAP bundle, and the
relationship between nurses’ compliance with implementing the VAP bundle and patientrelated outcomes (VAP rate, length of stay, number of ventilation days, and hospital cost).
Research Method:
This quantitative prospective epidemiological study used a descriptive correlation design.
The study was conducted at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) and Royal
Hospital for six months follow-up (August 2022-February2023). The study included all
Mechanically ventilated patients admitted to ICU on a ventilator for 48 hours or more.
Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, independent t-test, and Spearman’s rank correlation were
used to analyze study results.
Results:
The study included 103 patients. The study found that 22.3% of ventilated patients
developed VAP during the six months follow-up, with a VAP rate of 5.6 per thousand
ventilator days. Nurses' compliance with VAP guidelines in both hospitals was 69%, which
decreased over the admission period. Moreover, compliance with VAP bundles was
vi
significantly linked to less length of stay, fewer mechanical ventilation days, and less
hospital cost. Moreover, VAP development was less among patients where VAP bundle
was implemented..
Conclusion:
The findings of this study highlight the importance of healthcare organizations'
prioritization of strategies to improve compliance with VAP guidelines to achieve better
patient outcomes. Further studies are needed to explore the factors influencing nurses'
compliance with VAP guidelines to develop effective interventions to improve compliance
and patient outcomes. The study emphasizes the importance of continuous quality
improvement to detect and avoid VAP and audit implementing VAP bundle to reduce
infection and complications and enhance patient safety and outcomes
