Economic and Clinical Impact of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Intensive Care Units of a University Hospital Center

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections in the intensive care units (ICUs). They have not only an impact on each patient’s individual health but also result in a considerable financial burden for the healthcare system. Our aim was to estimate the cost and mortality rate of VAP on the level III ICUs of the Central Lisbon Hospital Center (CHLC).