Objective To analyze pathogens and risk factors of VAP in a general ICU of a primary hospital. Methods Totally 112 patients(from 2013-01 to 2014-12) under mechanical ventilation over 48 h were retrospectively studied. The patients were assigned into VAP group and non-VAP group. The independent risk factors and pathogens of VAP were analyzed. Results There was significant difference between VAP group and non-VAP group in terms of emergent tracheal intubation, MV time, types of antibiotics used, the use of hormones,the use of PPI and sedative drugs for more than 7 days, regurgitation, MODS, ICU stay time. Emergent tracheal intubation:52.2％ vs 31.9％,P＝0.029;MV time:9.8±3.5day vs 7.3±2.8day,P＝0.038;types of antibiotics used > 2 kinds:52.2％ vs 26.4％,P＝0.005;the use of hormones:56.5％ vs 27.0％,P＝0.001;the use of PPI >7day:65.2％ vs 40.3％,P＝0.008;the use of sedative drugs >7day:58.7％ vs 38.9％,P＝0.035;regurgitation:50％ vs 29.2％,P＝0.022;MODS:47.8％ vs 22.2％,P＝0.004;ICU stay time:13.6±6.6day vs 10.2±5.3day,P＝0.023. The use of hormones,MV time, ICU stay time were the independent risk factors of VAP[odds ratio(OR) of multivariate logistic regression:2.481、1.234、1.075]. The main pathogens of VAP were gram-negative bacteria (82.3%). Conclusion The study shows that the use of hormones,MV time, ICU stay time are the independent risk factors of VAP; gram-negative bacteria are the main pathogens of VAP. Once VAP occurs, they can be treated with anti-gram-negative bacteria antibiotics.