Asking the right questions: The relationship between incident ventilator-associated pneumonia and mortality

Abstract

Whether ventilator-associated pneumonia is a manifestation of severity of illness or an independent cause of mortality in ventilator-dependent patients is not known. In this complex area, which cannot be readily subjected to randomized controlled trials, studies should focus on the underlying questions of relevance, how to improve care of ventilated patients. © 2012 BioMed Central Ltd.