Update on ventilator-associated pneumonia.
OBJECTIVE
To highlight the importance of escalating pathogen resistance in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) along with diagnostic and treatment implications.


RESULTS
In a period of rising bacterial resistance, VAP remains an important infection occurring in critically ill patients. Risk factors for multidrug-resistant pathogens depend on both local epidemiology and host factors. New diagnostic techniques and antimicrobials can help with rapid bacterial identification and timely and appropriate treatment while avoiding emergence of bacterial resistance.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians should be aware of risk factors for multidrug-resistant pathogens causing VAP and also of particularities of diagnosis and treatment of this important clinical entity.
aDivision of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine bDivision of Infectious Diseases, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico cDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Cristina Vazquez
CV
Guillamet
Marin H
MH
Kollef
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents