The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical response rate of doripenem versus comparator in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Doripenem is an antibiotic medication not yet approved by the US FDA. This is a phase 3, multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label study of doripenem versus comparator to assess the effectiveness and safety of doripenem in the treatment of VAP in adult patients. The study consists of screening phase, open-label treatment phase, and follow-up. The treatment duration is from 7 to 14 days. The primary endpoint is the clinical response rate of doripenem at the early follow-up visit. The patients will receive either doripenem or comparator for 7 to 14 days.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient has received mechanical ventilation for > 24 hours
• Presence of a new or progressive infiltrate on chest x-ray

Exclusion Criteria:

• Believed at study entry to have ventilator-associated pneumonia caused solely by pathogen(s) resistant to certain antibiotics
• History of moderate or severe hypersensitivity reactions to certain antibiotics