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Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP)...facts and Numbers




VAP is defined as pneumonia that occurs more than 48 to 72 hours after endotracheal intubation.    


Although the incidence of VAP is poorly defined, an estimated 9 to 27% of all intubated patients develop VAP.  


The estimated risk of VAP is 
3% per day during the first 5 days of ventilation,
 2% per day during days 5 to 10, a
and 1% per day thereafter.




2004 American Thoracic Society - Guidelines for the management of adults with hospital-acquired, ventilator-associated, and healthcare-associated pneumonia. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2005;171(4):388-416. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15699079 [Accessed June 3, 2009].

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