Use of Gentamicin as Empiric Coverage for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: The "Con" Perspective.

Background: Gentamicin is used commonly as an empiric antibiotic prior to culture evidence in the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in surgical patients.

Methods: The published literature on the use of gentamicin for empiric therapy in VAP was reviewed and in combination with the author's personal experience, an evaluation has been made about the indications for the use of this antibiotic in VAP.

Results: Empiric gentamicin use appears to benefit less than 1% of patients in the treatment of presumptive VAP.