Researchers estimate between 25 and 30% of patients who are mechanically ventilated for longer than 48 hours contract ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP).

However, preventing VAP is hampered due to a lack of consensus regarding a clinically useful definition of VAP. There is no current program monitoring VAP within Australia.

University of Technology Sydney researchers are beginning a project to clinically define VAP and determine its incidence in Australian hospital intensive care units.