Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a lung infection that occurs in people using a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine used to help a person breathe by pumping oxygen through a tube in the person's mouth or nose or through a hole in the front of the throat. Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a lung infection that occurs in people using a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine used to help a person breathe by pumping oxygen through a tube in the person's mouth or nose or through a hole in the front of the throat. Infection can occur when bacteria enter the patient's lungs through a tube. CDC provides the medical community with guidelines and tools to end ventilator-associated pneumonia and help the public understand these infections and take steps to protect their own health when possible. We provide resources. Ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) is pneumonia that occurs more than 48 hours after mechanical ventilation using an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) results from microbial infiltration of the lower respiratory tract and lung parenchyma. Intubation compromises the integrity of the oropharynx and trachea, allowing oral and gastric secretions to enter the lower respiratory tract. Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is pneumonia that develops more than 48 hours after admission to an unventilated patient. Together, VAP and HAP are the most common nosocomial infections, accounting for an estimated 22% of nosocomial infections. About 10% of patients who need a ventilator get her VAP. Ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) is defined as pneumonia that develops more than 48–72 hours after endotracheal intubation, with the presence of new or progressive infiltrates, signs of systemic infection (fever, white blood cell count changes), and sputum changes. Pathogen characterization and detection characterized by VAP contribute to approximately half of all cases of hospital-acquired pneumonia. Therefore, VAP usually affects critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and on mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. VAP is a major cause of increased morbidity and mortality. Her ICU length of stay in VAP patients is longer, up to 20-30%. Diagnosis of VAP varies by hospital and provider, but usually requires new infiltrates on chest x-ray and two or more other factors. These factors include temperature >38 °C or <36 >12 × 109/mL, purulent secretions from the airways of the lungs, and/or decreased gas exchange. Another lesser-studied infection that occurs in ventilator users is ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT). Like VAP, tracheobronchial infections can colonize the trachea and migrate into the bronchi. VAT can be a risk factor for VAP. Her VAP affected 8-28% of patients on ventilators. VAP can occur at any time during mechanical ventilation but is most common during her first week of mechanical ventilation. There is some evidence of gender differences in the process of VAP. We know that men are more likely to get their VAP and women are more likely to die after getting their VAP. Ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) specifically refers to pneumonia that occurs more than 48 hours after intubation or tracheostomy in mechanically ventilated patients. The gold standard for diagnosing VAP remains elusive. However, standardization of clinical definitions has revealed a harmonized approach to this condition. VAP prolongs stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and appears to be an independent determinant of mortality in critically ill patients.