Role of nursing staff in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in neonates
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71112/seqbg733Keywords:
ventilator-associated pneumonia, neonatal nursing, infection prevention, intensive care, patient safetyAbstract
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in neonates is one of the most frequent and serious infections in neonatal intensive care units, with direct repercussions on morbidity, hospital stay, and mortality. This study conducted a systematic review of the literature published between 2020 and 2025 in international scientific databases, with the aim of identifying available evidence on the role of nursing staff in VAP prevention. Twenty-two selected articles were analyzed using the PRISMA methodology, assessing quality with RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and AMSTAR-2 tools. The results showed that nursing-led interventions hand hygiene, ventilator circuit management, oral care, positioning, and continuing education reduce the incidence of VAP by up to 56%, decrease days on ventilation, and improve neonatal survival. The effectiveness of these strategies is closely related to adherence to bundles and ongoing staff training. It is concluded that clinical leadership and evidence-based practice among nursing staff are crucial for consolidating a culture of safety in neonatal units and reducing respiratory infections associated with mechanical ventilation.
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