Pneumonia, ventilator-associated (VAP): Difference between revisions

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 **WBC<4000 or >12,000
 **If >70 years old, altered mental status without another recognized cause
-{{DA | There is often a difficulty in trying to apply this criteria in the neuro population, as they will have elevation in both T and WBC for very long periods which are not related to infection, and obviously already have a change in LOC. How should we deal with this issue? (Joyce) }}
+*Note that these symptoms/signs can be present without infection, but it's often difficult to tell which they're from.  So if there is a VERY high level of belief that the fever or WBC changes are NOT due to infection, then don't count such criteria as being present.  But in the absence of such high certainty then DO count them toward the VAP diagnosis.  It's a judgement call.
 ==== If Immunocompromised ====