Prevention of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Guidelines Side By Side Guideline Central Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is a type of pneumonia that develops at least 48 hours after a patient was intubated and placed on the mechanical ventilator. It's a preventable lung infection that can Learn about ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) Today's Topic: Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) VAP is a type of pneumonia that develops 48 hours or more after intubation and mechanical ventilation. Why It Happens: Bacteria enter the ()? is a lung infection that can cause serious health complications, especially in patients with weakened immune systems. When a patient is