Treatment protocol
infectious diseases, Chest X‐ray, VAP, fever
INFECTIOUS DISEASES, LEUKOCYTOSIS
Following VAP diagnosis, empiric antibiotic courses were commenced based on clinical judgment by infectious diseases specialist and were later changed based on ETA culture results. A total of 60 eligible patients were recruited for the study and were randomly assigned to two groups of 30 using random allocation software. Regardless of group assignment, all participants received meropenem (2 g as a 3‐h extended infusion every 8 h) and intravenous colistin (a loading dose of 9 million IU and then 4.5 million IU every 12 h). The control group was given inhaled colistin (1 million IU per 8 h), whereas the case group was given inhaled tobramycin/fosfomycin (300 mg every 12 h/80 mg every 12 h). The criteria for discontinuation of treatment included cessation of fever, resolution of leukocytosis, reduction of lung secretions, or improvement of Chest X‐ray (CXR) changes. Reduction of CPIS also was used. The decision to stop treatment was made by the treating physician.