Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia: review and prophylaxis checklist

Despite various preventive measures, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is still a persistent leader among nosocomial infections in intensive care units in developed and developing countries. Failure to achieve zero incidence of VAP, as well as high virulence and resistance of pathogens causing nosocomial respiratory infections necessitate intensive searching for new VAP prevention methods. This review analyzes conventional and innovative approaches to VAP prevention and discusses a draft for VAP prevention checklist.