Effectiveness of a ventilator bundle in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia among children on mechanical ventilation in the PICU at GRH, Madurai.

Abstract

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs), contributing significantly to morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and increased healthcare costs. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a ventilator bundle in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia among children on mechanical ventilation in the PICU at GRH, Madurai. Materials and Methods: A quantitative evaluative approach with a quasi-experimental control group posttest-only design was adopted. Sixty children on mechanical ventilation (30 intervention, 30 control) were selected using consecutive sampling. The intervention group received the ventilator bundle, including head-end elevation, position change, oral care with normal saline, and suctioning, while the control group received routine care.. Results: In the intervention group, 76.7% of children had no infection and 23.3% had mild infection, whereas in the control group only 23.3% had no infection, 53.4% had mild infection, and 23.3% had moderate infection (χ² = 19.055, p = 0.000). The mean ventilator score of the intervention group (0.27 ± 0.521) was significantly lower than that of the control group (2.07 ± 1.461), with a mean difference of 1.80 (t = 6.358, p = 0.000). Conclusion: The study concluded that the ventilator bundle was highly effective in reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia among children in the PICU.