Infection control guideline for the prevention of healthcare-associated pneumonia : Guide de prévention de la pneumonie associée aux soins de santé

National guidelines support infection control professionals, healthcare organizations and healthcare providers in the development, implementation and evaluation of infection prevention and control policies, procedures and programs to improve the quality and safety of health care and patient outcomes. [...] This means increasing one’s awareness of the risk factors for the development of pneumonia in specific populations (e.g., the immunocompromised patient, the cystic fibrosis patient, the elderly long-term care resident, the home care client) in the specific healthcare settings where it occurs, and practising appropriate preventive measures. [...] A summary of risk factors and prevention measures related to the patient, the device, the treatment, and the environment completes the overview. [...] Part B, “Recommendations for the Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia”, presents control measures to assist in: 1) the prevention of cross-transmission of healthcare-associated pneumonia; 2) the modification of host risk factors; 3) the care of respiratory equipment and devices; 4) surveillance/quality assurance; and 5) maintenance of administrative and environmental controls. [...] Health care restructuring, motivated by changes in the health status and demographics of the population, such as more individuals with chronic illness and an increasingly older population, and the continuing increase in hospital health care costs with the search for cost-effective alternatives to hospital-based treatments, have resulted in the relocation of patient care from acute care hospitals t