Managing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Antibiotic Therapy and Targeted Prevention

I. Introduction Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), defined as pneumonia developing 48 hours after intubation, is the most common serious infection in intensive care unit (ICU) patients leading to increased mortality, morbidity, and health care costs (1-3). Bacterial pathogens causing VAP vary by patient population and type of ICU. Leakage of bacteria around the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff is a major route of access to the lower respiratory tract and a vital target for VAP prevention efforts (1-4).