• M Cristina Ajenjo, Alejandra Zambrano, María I Eugenin, Pablo Achurra, Ricardo Zalaquett, Manuel J Irarrázaval, Gabriela De la Cerda, Paula Fernández, Miriam Barañao, Patricia Fuentealba, Marcela Ferrés, Patricia García, Carlos Pérez, and Jaime Labarca.
• Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínico Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. majenjo@puc.cl
• Rev Chilena Infectol. 2013 Apr 1;30(2):129-34.

ObjectivesTo report the results of 13 years worth of epidemiologic surveillance of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) following heart surgery and the main interventions applied in order to reduce VAP incidence.MethodsThis is a retrospective and descriptive study of active epidemiologic surveillance of VAP. National diagnostic criteria were used. Interventions associated with a decrease in VAlP incidence in adults who underwent heart surgery are described.ResultsA significant and sustained reduction was observed in the rate of VAP; being 56.7 per 1,000 ventilator-days in 1998 vs 4.7 per 1,000 ventilator-days in 2010 (p < 0.001). The strongest reduction was observed following 2003 (34.4 to 14.8 per 1,000 ventilator-days in 2004, p < 0.001). The interventions with greatest impact were the implementation of an early-weaning protocol, the introduction of trained nurses to perform the mechanical ventilator equipment management and the routine use of alcohol-based hand rubs.ConclusionEpidemiologic surveillance associated with the establishment of a multifactorial intervention program applied in collaboration with the attending team, have demonstrated a significant reduction of VAP incidence after heart surgery.

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