Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a lung infection that can develop in patients who are receiving breathing support from a ventilator in a Critical Care Unit (CCU). A ventilator is a machine that helps a patient breathe when they are unable to do so on their own.
Because patients on ventilators cannot breathe, cough, or clear their lungs normally, bacteria can sometimes enter the lungs and cause infection. Hospitals use strict infection prevention practices to reduce this risk, including proper hand hygiene, equipment cleaning, and patient positioning.
All hospitals with CCUs are required to report VAP data to the Critical Care Information System (CCIS), a provincial data system. This information is used to calculate and publicly report VAP rates, supporting transparency, patient safety, and quality improvement.
To review these rates, please click patient safety indicators