# Reductions in ventilator-associated events following implementation of a ventilator-associated pneumonia diagnostic stewardship intervention: A difference-in-difference study

## TL;DR

A new intervention reduced unnecessary testing for ventilator-associated pneumonia without harming patients.

## Contribution

A bundled diagnostic stewardship intervention safely reduced PVAP overdiagnosis in ICU patients.

## Key findings

- Respiratory culturing rates decreased after the intervention.
- There was a significant reduction in possible ventilator-associated pneumonia events.
- Patient safety was not compromised during the intervention.

## Abstract

In this post hoc analysis of a quasi-experimental pilot/feasibility trial, a bundled diagnostic stewardship intervention safely reduced respiratory culturing rates without increasing ventilator-associated events (VAEs). Using difference-in-differences methodology, we observed a significant reduction in possible ventilator-associated pneumonia (PVAP) events, suggesting the intervention may reduce pneumonia overdiagnosis without compromising patient safety.