An article in the American Journal of Infection Control, co-authored by CareQuest Institute researchers, examines the impact of nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NVHAP) among Medicaid enrollees.
NVHAP occurs in about 1 out of every 100 hospitalized patients and is associated with longer hospital stays, hospital readmissions, and increased health care costs. The authors found that the mean hospital stay was approximately $20,000 more for patients with NVHAP compared to those without.
The study also found that incidence of NVHAP was higher in patients aged 45–64 and in men.
While this study of Medicaid patients is not generalizable to the broader population, the findings support the need to include NVHAP in efforts to reduce hospital-acquired infections. Today, it is not included in CMS’ Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program, so many hospitals do not engage in active NVHAP prevention.
The authors also highlight “an emerging body of evidence associating the use of comprehensive oral care and mobility to reduce the incidence of NVHAP and findings provide additional support . . . to implement and support NVHAP prevention and education.”
Read the article in the American Journal of Infection Control (open access)
You may also be interested in:
- The Link Between Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and the Mouth, a report that explores the connection between preventive dental visits and decreased likelihood of acquiring pneumonia while on a ventilator.
- Impacts Beyond the Mouth, an infographic that highlights the connection between oral health and overall health.
- A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Oral Health Care Spending Over the Life Span in Commercial- and Medicaid-Insured Populations, an article in the Journal of the American Dental Association that features one of the most comprehensive life course analyses of spending on oral health care.