A patient with severe neurological devastation after head trauma has a prolonged course in the intensive care unit. He has been mechanically ventilated for his entire hospital stay. Which of the following clinical findings is diagnostic of a ventilator-associated pneumonia?
Correct Answer: Greater than 10,000 colony-forming U/mL of an organism on bronchoalveolar lavage
Description: While findings such as fever, leukocytosis, purulent secretions, or a focal infiltrate on chest x-ray are suspicious for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), quantitative cultures are diagnostic. Samples may be obtained using bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Greater than or equal to 10,000 colony-forming U/mL of a single organism is diagnostic for VAP. Empiric antibiotics may be initiated after cultures are obtained based on clinical suspicion, but antibiotic coverage should be narrowed or stopped once an organism is identified to minimize development of resistant organisms
Category:
Anaesthesia
Get More
Subject Mock Tests
Practice with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects and improve your knowledge.
Attempt a mock test nowMock Exam
Take an exam with 100 random questions selected from all subjects to test your knowledge.
Coming SoonGet More
Subject Mock Tests
Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.
Attempt a mock test now