Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain an important cause of morbidity. Efforts to reduce HAIs are at the forefront of initiatives to improve outcomes in the ICU, and public reporting of select HAIs is intended to further this effort. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) represents the most common HAI, and, allegedly, rates of VAP have fallen in the United States. Multiple preventive options exist to reduce the incidence of VAP. Often simple interventions focused on addressing liberation from mechanical ventilation, sedation, and oral and upper airway care can prove effective. Some hospitals now claim to have eliminated VAP,
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