title: Ventilator-associated pneumonia.
abstract: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the most common nosocomial infection. Mortality rates, morbidity, and costs are all increased in the patient with VAP, and every measure should thus be taken to prevent its development. There are several clearly defined risk factors for VAP, and awareness of these can facilitate early diagnosis and hence treatment. In this article, we discuss the risk factors, strategies for prevention, approaches to diagnosis and management plan for the patient with VAP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care, Erasme University Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Route de Lennik, 808, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium. jlvincent@ulb.ac.be
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vincent
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003663:Decision Trees; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay; D009017:Morbidity; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011322:Primary Prevention; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D016683:Supine Position; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents