Optimal management therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa ventilator-associated pneumonia: an observational, multicenter study comparing monotherapy with combination antibiotic therapy.

Objective: To evaluate whether one antibiotic achieves equal outcomes compared with combination antibiotic therapy in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Design: A retrospective, multicenter, observational, cohort study.

Setting: Five intensive care units in Spanish university hospitals.

[Clinical approach to the patient with ventilator-associated pneumonia].

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent infection in the intensive care unit. The importance of this entity lies not only in its high incidence but also in the significant mortality it produces. Therefore, a new episode of VAP should be clinically suspected when new or persistent radiological opacity, purulent respiratory secretions and other signs of sepsis (fever and leukocytosis) are present.