Management of hospital-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit

Abstract

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the leading nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) [1] and represents up to 80% of episodes of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). The true attributable mortality of VAP episodes in critically ill patients has been debated [2]. However, well designed matched cohort studies have demonstrated the association between late onset VAP and higher mortality, particularly when caused by virulent bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing type III secretory proteins [3]. Virulence rather than resistance is a key feature. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.