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 Medline introduced several enhancements to its VAPrevent oral care program, an advanced oral care management system created to help clinicians complete timely oral care on ventilated patients, which can help reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).
VAP is the second most common hospital-acquired infection in the U.S. A major cause of VAP - which occurs in up to 25 percent of all people who require mechanical ventilation through an endotracheal or tracheostomy tube - is oral bacteria that thrive in dental plaque and oropharyngeal secretions making their way into the lungs by way of a mechanical ventilator.
To prevent VAP, the CDC recommends cleaning the inside of the patient's mouth on a regular basis. Medline's newly designed system features a dispensing mechanism that contains individual procedure kits designed to make it easier to perform around-the-clock oral care on ventilated patients. Each kit is easily identifiable and labeled with the time to use it which helps to ensure that treatments are given on schedule, which is critical in preventing VAP.
New features include:
•CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate) pharmacy packs enable facilities to remove CHG bottles from the kit and store them in the facility's pharmacy
•Ergonomic suction handle provides best-in-class comfort and ease of use
•Connectors swivel to stop hose kinks and maintain strong suction. Thumb port adapter converts straight suction tools to "on/off" tools
•Solid-board outer packaging now compatible with corrugate-free environments.
In addition to the oral care kits, Medline's VAPrevent program includes comprehensive education and training for caregivers, patients and families, as well as dedicated program management to track progress and provide support and resources.
For more information visit www.medline.com or call 800-633-5463.
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