Ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention by education and two combined bedside strategies.

Objective: The objective of the study was to reduce the ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) incidence rates through a rational prevention program.

Design: The study was a non-controlled clinical trial with a set of interventions in mechanically ventilated patients from April 2006 until June 2008. Pneumonia rates were analyzed as time series and their mean risks of development were compared before and after the interventions with a non-concurrent cohort using the same time frame (January 2004-March 2006).

Delirium in postoperative nonventilated intensive care patients: risk factors and outcomes.

Background: Delirium features can vary greatly depending on the postoperative population studied; however, most studies focus only on high-risk patients. Describing the impact of delirium and risk factors in mixed populations can help in the development of preventive actions.

Methods: The occurrence of delirium was evaluated prospectively in 465 consecutive nonventilated postoperative patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) using the confusion assessment method (CAM).