Duration of therapy for VAP

The usual total duration of therapy (intravenous + oral) for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is 7 daysKalil, 2016. If the patient has rapidly improved and is clinically stable by day 3, consider shortening the duration of therapy to 5 days (intravenous + oral)Klompas, 2017.

Patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa VAP may require up to 14 days of therapy (intravenous + oral) – see Duration of therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumoniaBougle, 2022. Patients with lung abscess, empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion require a longer duration of therapy – see Lung abscess or Parapneumonic effusion and thoracic empyema. Patients with necrotising or cavitary pneumonia usually need a longer duration of therapy – seek expert advice.