Ventilator-associated pneumonia in the ICU

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is defined as pneumonia that occurs 48–72 hours or thereafter following endotracheal intubation, characterized by the presence of a new or progressive infiltrate, signs of systemic infection (fever, altered white blood cell count), changes in sputum characteristics, and detection of a causative agent [1]. VAP contributes to approximately half of all cases of hospital-acquired pneumonia [1, 2]. VAP is estimated to occur in 9–27 % of all mechanically ventilated patients, with the highest risk being early in the course of hospitalization [1, 3]. It is the second most common nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the most common in mechanically ventilated…