NV-HAP Risks In The NICU
NV-HAP is a significant risk in hospital settings, whether the patient is in the NICU or not. However, NV-HAP is especially dangerous in the NICU for several specific reasons.
In this article, we’ll break down the distinct challenges that NV-HAP presents in the NICU and detail one of the reasons why this complication is so prevalent in this setting. However, before we do that, let’s discuss the basics of what NV-HAP is.
What is NV-HAP?
Before we discuss the problems specific to the NICU, let’s discuss what NV-HAP is from a broader perspective. NV-HAP stands for Non-Ventilator Hospital Acquired Pneumonia. This variety of pneumonia occurs throughout many hospital settings and is a concern that can cause many complications. Unfortunately, NV-HAP can affect any hospital patient. But with that said, NV-HAP is particularly hazardous in the NICU.
Why NV-HAP Presents So Many Risks in the NICU
As the section above revealed, NV-HAP is not just a problem for hospitals in general, but it is a specifically dangerous outcome in the NICU. Read on through the sections below to learn why NV-HAP is particularly detrimental in NICU settings.
Neonates Have Not Developed Strong Immune Systems
One of the top reasons why NV-HAP is so detrimental in the NICU is that neonates have simply not had enough time and exposure to the world to develop a strong immune system. While adults are also susceptible to NV-HAP, they typically have more developed immune systems, meaning that they are better able to fight off the illness.
By contrast, neonates have a minimal defense against sicknesses like NV-HAP. As such, when a neonate contracts NV-HAP, it is much more likely to lead to a serious infection or complications that require considerably long hospital stays.
NV-HAP in Neonates Requires Longer Hospital Stays
Another issue with NV-HAP in the NICU is that it results in additional severe complications for neonates. These complications compound with any other afflictions the neonate may be facing, which makes for more complicated and drawn-out healthcare stays.
Longer hospital stays are not only a nuisance to patients and caregivers, but they can also become incredibly costly for those responsible for covering the bills. Long hospital stays also place further stress on the healthcare system as a whole. Since that’s the case, avoiding NV-HAP in the NICU is all the more important for everyone involved.
NV-HAP Infections Cause Complications and Mortality
While NV-HAP itself is dangerous, the infections it can cause are even more dire. As referenced in the previous two sections, NV-HAP in the NICU can lead to severe health complications. Unfortunately, those complications can result in mortality in some cases. The risk of fatal outcomes further proves the importance of understanding and avoiding NV-HAP in the NICU at all costs.
NV-HAP Preventative Measures for Adults Don’t Work for Neonates
Not only is NV-HAP in the NICU dangerous for neonates, but it is also harder to prevent in infants versus adults. In fact, some of the most common preventative measures against NV-HAP in adults are completely non-applicable for neonates.
For example, healthcare providers often elevate the head of an adult hospital patient in their bed to prevent aspiration, making NV-HAP less likely. However, placing a neonate in this position can lead to oxygen deprivation in the neonate. Without the use of this common NV-HAP prevention tactic that works for adults, neonates continue to be especially vulnerable to NV-HAP and the complications it can cause.
How Feeding Tubes Can Lead to NV-HAP in Neonates
Nasogastric (NG) feeding tubes are a prevalent way to provide neonates in the NICU with the nutrients, fluids, and medications they need. However, while these NG tubes are generally dependable, they can lead to higher rates of NV-HAP when providers fail to place them correctly.
Ideally, an NG tube should enter the neonate’s nasal passage and then travel down into the stomach. This proper placement allows for safe usage of the tube. On the other hand, tube misplacement can cause many health risks.
Astoundingly, some studies show that up to 56% of feeding tubes intended for the stomach end up elsewhere in the body. For instance, some feeding tubes manage to end up in a neonate’s lungs rather than their stomach.
When NG tubes enter a neonate’s lungs, they can cause NV-HAP as well as other serious lung infections, some of which can be fatal. Given the danger of misplaced feeding tubes, it is vital to find a reliable way to confirm accurate NG tube placement before use.
Ensuring Safe Feeding Tube Use
Now that you have learned about the danger that misplaced feeding tubes present in the NICU, you’re likely wondering how these dangers can be limited or prevented entirely. Fortunately, there is a dependable way to ensure the proper placement of an NG tube every time.
The best way to ensure the safe use of an NG tube is by using a PH testing kit to confirm the accurate placement of an NG tube. These tests require you to use a syringe to pull stomach fluid out of the tube after placement. When this fluid contacts the PH test, the test will indicate the acidity of the fluid, which, in turn, indicates whether the tube is properly placed or not.
Compared to other NG feeding tube placement testing methods, PH testing kits consistently prove to be the most convenient, affordable, easy to use, accurate, and fast at providing results. Since PH testing kits provide these advantages, they are the ideal placement test to use whether you are confirming NG tube placement in the NICU or not.
Given the many hazards of improper NG tube use in the NICU, using PH tests every time before using an NG tube is paramount for safety. Using these tests regularly may even help prevent instances of NV-HAP, keeping neonates safe during their stay and drastically reducing the medical complications they face.
Use the Best PH Testing Kit in Your NICU
You now understand the risks of NV-HAP in the NICU, and you know how misplaced feeding tubes can lead to this problem. With that knowledge, you’re likely keen on finding a reliable PH testing kit to use every time you need to use an NG tube for a neonate in the NICU.
If you want the best PH testing kit on the market today, the only choice is the RightSpotpH® Indicator by RightBio Metrics. Our industry-leading products help avoid misplaced feeding tubes and the complications they can cause. Contact us today to learn more and set up a free live demo of our products.