Abstract Objective To describe ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) recurrence in COVID-19 patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, and to evaluate the impact of antimicrobial treatment duration of the first VAP episode on VAP recurrence. Methods Adult patients with COVID-19 severe pneumonia on ECMO admitted between March 2020 and January 2022 were retrospectively included. Primary outcome was incidence of VAP recurrence, and secondary outcome was the impact of duration of antimicrobial treatment on VAP recurrence. Results Among the 252 included patients, 226 (90%) developed a first VAP. Sixteen had lung abscess and were excluded, leaving 210 patients. VAP recurrence occurred in 172 patients (82%), with a median (IQR) time from first VAP to recurrence of 10 (7–13) days. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae were respectively responsible for 28% and 52% of first VAP, and 51% and 62% of first recurrence episodes. Among the 210 patients with a first VAP, 158 (75%) received a short course of antibiotics [
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