• VAP remains a major cause of high morbidity and mortality in mechanically ventilated patients worldwide and is associated with increased health care costs.
• Many unanswered questions in regards to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of VAP remain.
• Since the body of literature on VAP is extensive, it has become increasingly difficult for critical care practicioners to assimilate and apply the evidence.

It is imperative to develop a center of excellence for VAP to collate and disseminate existing knowledge of VAP to develop current evidence based guidelines covering all facets of VAP and to generate new knowledge in regards to VAP.