Follow-up for patients with VAP

In patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), infiltrates seen on chest X-ray can take weeks to resolve. A repeat chest X-ray is recommended 6 to 8 weeks after the episode of pneumonia for patients in whom there is a clinical suspicion of lung malignancy (eg older people, smokers).

For information about strategies to prevent further episodes of pneumonia, see Prevention of VAP.