Table 1 Clinical, Radiological and Microbiological Criteria for diagnosing VAP
From: Ventilator-associated pneumonia: pathobiological heterogeneity and diagnostic challenges
Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
Clinical | •Fever > 38 °C with no other cause AND •Leucocytosis or leukopenia AND at least one of the following; •New onset or change in sputum •Cough, dyspnoea or tachypnoea •Worsening gas exchange |
Radiological | •Chest radiographs or computed tomograms with evidence of pulmonary infiltrates OR air bronchograms. If there is a pulmonary disease history, compare serial images. |
Microbiological | •Positive quantitative culture from minimally contaminated lower respiratory tract specimen OR •Positive sputum culture or non-quantitative lower respiratory tract culture |
