Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a life-threatening disease causing an increased morbidity, mortality, cost and length of stay in the intensive care unit. Inappropriate treatment is frequent and it is associated with worse prognosis. This document is an evidence based consensus which discusses treatment aspects of this complication. Empiric treatment should be based on local epidemiology and data collected through the national nosocomial infection surveillance and reliable microbiology. Antibiotic treatment on specific microorganisms is also recommended