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Abstract Summary Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common and serious problem among mechanically ventilated neonates in pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines (VAP) as an episode of pneumonia that occurred in a patient after 48 hours of mechanical ventilation through a tracheostomy or endotracheal tube. This can be further classified into early onset within the first 96 hours of Mechanical Ventilation (MV) and late onset more than 96 hours after the initiation of (MV), which is more commonly attributable to multidrug–resistant pathogens. The key to the development of VAP is the presence of an endotracheal tube which interfere with the normal anatomy and physiology of the respiratory tract, specifically the functional mechanisms involved in clearing secretions (cough and mucociliary action). Length of stay in the NICU, re-intubation, enteral feeding, mechanical ventilation, low immunity, low birth weight, premature infants, parenteral nutrition, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and tracheal intubation are important risk factors for development of VAP. Clinical criteria for VAP include unstable body tempreture, leukocytosis or leucopoenia, purulent secretions, new or worsening cough, dyspnoea, tachypnoea, crackles or bronchial breath sounds, and worsening gas exchange. Radiologic criteria include the presence of new or progressive pulmonary infiltrates, adhesions or fluid in lobar fissures/pleura, cavitations, air bronchograms, or pneumatoceles on chest |