Eur Respir J 2007; 30: 1193–1207 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00048507 CopyrightßERS Journals Ltd 2007 REVIEW Evidence on measures for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia L. Lorente*, S. Blot# and J. Rello",+ AFFILIATIONS ABSTRACT: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) continues to be an important cause of *Intensive Care Unit, Hospital morbidity and mortality in ventilated patients. Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Evidence-based guidelines have been issued since 2001 by the European Task Force on Tenerife, "Intensive Care Dept, Joan XXIII ventilator-associated pneumonia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Canadian University Hospital, and Critical Care Society, and also by the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society +University Rovira i Virgili Medical of America, which have produced a joint set of recommendations. School, Pere Virgili Health Institut, The present review article is based on a comparison of these guidelines, together with an Tarragona, Spain. #Critical Care Dept, Ghent University update of further publications in the literature. The 100,000 Lives campaign, endorsed by leading Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. US agencies and societies, states that all ventilated patients should receive a ventilator bundle to reduce the incidence of VAP. CORRESPONDENCE The present review article is useful for identifying evidence-based processes that can be L. Lorente Intensive Care Unit modified to improve patients’ safety. Hospital Universitario de Canarias C/ Ofra s/n KEYWORDS: Ventilator-associated pneumonia La Laguna Tenerife 38320 entilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) tracheal suctioning system’’, ‘‘open tracheal Spain Fax: 34 22662245 suctioning system’’, ‘‘change of closed tracheal continues to be an important cause of E-mail:
[email protected] V morbidity and mortality in critically ill suctioning system’’, ‘‘sterilization’’, ‘‘disinfec- patients [1–3].