SHEA GUIDELINES Bundle (free trial)

Guide to Being A Safe Patient or Caregiver to Help Prevent Infections

SHEA GUIDELINES Apps brought to you free of charge courtesy of Guideline Central. All of these titles are available for purchase on our website, GuidelineCentral.com. Enjoy!

Issue link: https://eguideline.guidelinecentral.com/i/1530868

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 6 of 11

7 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.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of SHEA GUIDELINES Bundle (free trial) - Guide to Being A Safe Patient or Caregiver to Help Prevent Infections