The aim of the present study was to examine whether prone positioning (PP) affects ventilator associated-pneumonia (VAP) and mortality in patients with acute lung injury/adult respiratory distress syndrome.2,409 prospectively included patients were admitted over 9 yrs (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) to 12 French intensive care units (ICUs) (OUTCOMEREA). The patients required invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) and had arterial oxygen tension/inspiratory oxygen fraction ratios ,300 during the first 48 h. Controls were matched to PP patients on the PP propensity score (¡10%), MV duration longer than that in PP patients before the first turn prone, and centre.VAP incidence was similar in the PP and control groups (24 versus 13 episodes?1,000 patientdays MV -1 respectively, p50.14). After adjustment, PP did not decrease VAP occurrence (HR 1.64(95% CI 0.70-3.84); p50.25) but significantly delayed hospital mortality (HR 0.56 (95% CI 0.39-0.79); p50.001), without decreasing 28-day mortality (37% in both groups). Post hoc analyses indicated that PP did not protect against VAP but, when used for .1 day, might decrease mortality and benefit the sickest patients (Simplified Acute Physiology Score .50).In ICU patients with hypoxaemic acute respiratory failure, PP had no effect on the risk of VAP. PP delayed mortality without decreasing 28-day mortality. PP .1 day might decrease mortality, particularly in the sickest patients.