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Pneumonia
Hospital-acquired pneumonia refers to a lung infection that develops in
a person who is in the hospital. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
is a lung infection that develops in a person who is on a ventilator. A
ventilator is a machine that helps a patient breathe by giving oxygen
through a tube placed in the patient's mouth, nose, or through a hole
in the front of the neck. Non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia is
pneumonia that occurs in a patient who does not have a ventilator.
Tell a healthcare professional if you have:
• Difficulty swallowing or a risk of aspirating (breathing in) food or
drinks
• Fever
• Chills
• Cough
• Vomiting
• Shortness of breath or hard and fast breathing
• Chest pain.
For caregivers, especially if the patient needs help speaking,
tell a healthcare professional if the patient:
• Has difficulty swallowing, a risk of aspirating (inhaling) food or drinks.
• Any symptoms.
For caregivers of patients on ventilators, follow the Steps to
Prevent HAIs, and:
• Ask a healthcare professional whether they should raise the head of
the bed.
• Ask if the level of sedation is appropriate.
• Ask when exercise and mobilization can begin.
• Ask if you can brush the patient's teeth.
• Ask when tube feeding can begin.
• Ask when the patient can try breathing on their own.
• Ask when you can help the nurse or physical therapist get the patient
to move.
• For pediatric patients, ask about symptoms of possible fluid
overload.
