ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of selective oral decontamination (SOD) on reducing incidence of ventilatorassociated pneumonia (VAP).MethodsSixty patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU)for >72 hours and with mechanical ventilation for >48 hours from January to June 2102 were selected for study,patients were randomly divided into trial group(n=30) and control group(n=30).All patients received cefotaxime intravenous drip for 4 days, then trial group received oropharyngeal application of tobramycin during the whole process of mechanical ventilation, control group topically received saline solution, the incidence and onset time of VAP, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in ICU, and mortality of two groups were compared. Sputum in the trachea was taken periodically for bacterial culture.ResultsThe incidence of VAP in trial group was lower than control group (30.00% vs 63.33%)；the onset time of VAP was later than control group (［9.37±6.62］d vs ［5.17±4.72］d)；Overall duration of mechanical ventilation was less than control group (［7.63±6.91］d vs ［12.26±9.36］d)；length of stay in ICU was shorter than control group(［13.56±7.22］d vs ［16.79±11.16］d)(all P<0.05). There were no significant difference in mortality between two groups(P>0.05).ConclusionSOD is effective for preventing and treating VAP,it can reduce the incidence of VAP, delay onset time of VAP, shorten mechanical ventilation,and reduce length of stay in ICU.