Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is defined as a new onset of pneumonia (lung infection) occurring in patients who are on ventilators in Critical Care Unit (CCU). Ventilators are external mechanical breathing support systems. VAP can develop in patients because they are relying on an external machine to breathe, which may affect their normal coughing, yawning and deep breathing reflexes.
All hospitals with CCU’s are required to report into the Critical Care Information System (CCIS) – a centralized data collection system where hospitals report a variety of critical care information. This information is used to calculate the VAP data that must be publicly reported.
Below is the quarterly break down of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia cases at Woodstock Hospital in 2020 and 2021.