VAP diagnostic criteria

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a lung infection that occurs in people using ventilators. Diagnostic criteria include signs such as new or worsening chest X-ray findings (like lung infiltrates), symptoms like fever, increased heart rate, or abnormal breathing, and laboratory evidence such as elevated white blood cell count or bacteria in lung secretions. Importantly, healthcare providers assess these signs collectively, ruling out other causes. Confirming VAP involves combining clinical symptoms with diagnostic tests, to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.