Knowledge and practice on ventilator associated pneumonia (vap) care bundle of mechanically ventilated patient among staff nurses working in the intensive care unit of tertiary care hospitals of Sikkim

Introduction: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a lung infection that develops in a person who is on a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine that provides oxygen to a patient via a tube inserted in the patient's mouth or nose, or through a hole in the front of the neck. If microorganisms reach the patient's lungs through the tube, an illness may result. When a patient is critically ill, or during and after surgery, he or she may require a ventilator. Ventilators can save a patient's life, but they also raise the risk of pneumonia by making it easier for germs to enter the patient's lungs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and practise of ICU nurses. Method: A descriptive study was conducted in ICUs of CRH and New STNM hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim. The sample consisted of 66 staff nurses, who fulfilled inclusion criteria of the study. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used. The data collection tool used for the study was 20 structured knowledge questionnaires on VAP Bundle and 20 practice observational checklist. Result: Out of 66 ICU staff nurse 89.4% had a good knowledge, 7.6% had average knowledge and 3% of the staff nurses had poor knowledge on VAP bundle care. Majority 98.48% had good knowledge regarding VAP treatment, 39.39% had poor knowledge on VAP bundle care components. 69.7% of the staff nurses had good practice, 23.3% had average practice and 3% had poor practice. 100% of the staff nurses wore PPE for protection of the airway and 42.42% of staff nurses did not practice standard hand washing technique appropriately. The present study revealed that there was moderately positive correlation between knowledge and practice of VAP bundle care (r= 0.148). There was no association between nurse knowledge score with the demographic variables, also there was no association between practice score with demographic variables. Conclusion: The study found that the majority of the ICU nurses had good knowledge and practice on VAP prevention, there is still need for continuous training on evidenced based practices so as to prevent infection and complication.