Nosocomial pneumonia is a frequent infection that is classified into two groups [1]: HAP, which develops in hospitalised patients after 48 h of admission, and does not require (but may include) artificial ventilation at the time of diagnosis [2, 3]; and VAP, which occurs in intensive care unit (ICU) patients who have received mechanical ventilation for at least 48 h [2, 3]. HAP is the second most common hospital infection and has the highest crude mortality, while VAP is the most frequent cause of nosocomial infection in the ICU [2, 3]. Both types of pneumonia lengthen hospital stay and consume considerable health resources [2, 3]. Recently, the ERS, ESICM, ESCMID and ALAT published clinical guidelines on the therapeutic and management strategies for adult patients with HAP and VAP, designed to guide clinical decisions made not only by pulmonologists and intensivists but by all health professionals who treat these patients [2]. These clinical guidelines are evidence-based (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) and follow the PICO ( population-intervention-comparison-outcome) model. Each section in this article refers to a specific PICO question addressed in the guidelines.