Material and Method: An educational program on VAP and its prevention, which consisted of a 1-hour formal
lecture, an educational handout, and a pre-and post-test exam was given to the nursing staff beginning in
April 1st, 2003. Reminding posters were posted throughout the ICU. The pre-and post-intervention clinical
data that included age, sex, diagnosis, APACHE II, ventilator days, and incidence of VAP were collected. VAP
was considered to have occurred only after the patient had been on mechanical ventilation for greater than 48
hours. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of VAP. The secondary outcome measures were duration
of the ICU and hospital stay, and the ICU and hospital mortality. Values were expressed as mean +
standard deviation, and median (range). Multiple logistic regression analysis of various variables was used
to identify risk factors for the occurrence of the VAP.