Chang Gung medical journal
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Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) contributes to high mortality, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay and increased costs of health care. Reports of early predictors of death in patients with VAP are rare. Our study was designed to determine early predictors of poor outcome in patients with VAP. ⋯ A high APACHE II score (>27) at VAP onset was an independent and early predictor of mortality due to VAP.