Ultrashort abx for vap

BACKGROUND: Many patients started on antibiotics for possible ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) do not have pneumonia. Patients with minimal and stable ventilator settings may be suitable candidates for early antibiotic discontinuation. We compared outcomes among patients with suspected VAP but minimal and stable ventilator settings treated with 1-3 days vs >3 days of antibiotics. METHODS: We identified consecutive adult patients started on antibiotics for possible VAP with daily minimum positive end-expiratory pressure of ≤5 cm H2O and fraction of inspired oxygen ≤40% for at least 3 days within a large tertiary care hospital between 2006 and 2014...