Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) continues to be the most common nosocomial infection in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation. In this review data was sourced from Medline, the National Institute for Clinical Effectiveness (NICE), study authors and review articles. Development of VAP prolongs length of stay in the intensive care unit and may increase mortality. Although diagnosis is difficult, with little consensus on ideal diagnostic criteria, there is general agreement that rapid and accurate diagnosis of VAP is essential as delayed administration of appropriate antibiotic therapy increases mortality. Implementation of evidence-based strategies for the prevention of VAP may reduce morbidity, mortality and length of stay.
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