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Page 52
Volume 3
Journal of Nursing Research and Practice
Nursing Care Congress 2019
March 11-12, 2019
Nursing and Nursing Care Congress
March 11-12, 2019 Orlando, USA
5
th
World
Implementation of an oral care protocol to prevent hospital acquired pneumonia in geriatric patients
Lanaya Davis
University of Maryland, USA
Statement of problem:
Hospital Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) is the second most common hospital acquired infection and is
responsible for 20-33% of mortality rates from infection. Patients with HAP also have higher 30-days hospital readmission rates
compared to patients without a hospital acquired infection. Nationwide, HAP accounts for 32.5-35.4 million discharges annually.
According to the Centres for Disease Control, 5-7% of hospitalizations due to pneumonia end in death. The oral cavity is a high
reservoir for infection, and Evidence-Based practice suggests oral hygiene interventions to prevent HAP. HAP is more common in at
risk individuals, and there are four routes of transmission: (1) through aspiration of oral contents (food, oropharyngeal secretions, or
gastrointestinal contents), (2) from infectious sites, (3) from inhalation of aerosols that are infected, and (4) from extra-pulmonary
sites. Aspiration of infectious organisms remains the number one way to acquire HAP, so reducing oral bacteria is critical in HAP
prevention. Methods: This project took place over a 14-week time span. Education sessions was provided to staff to ensure appropriate
use of oral care equipment. A five question pre and post education test was administered to measure retention of information. Staff
documented each time oral care was performed, and they also documented all of the supplies that were used. Conclusion and
significance: The results of this project can help establish a standardized protocol to prevent HAP in elderly patients being treated in a
hospital setting. Effective implementation of this protocol could potentially decrease the number of cases of HAP in a hospital setting
which in turn decreases the overall costs spent to treat this diagnosis.
joneslan06@umaryland.eduJ Nursing Research and Practice, Volume 3
DOI: 10.4172/2632-251X-C2-006