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19. Ventilator Associated Pneumonia.pdf

The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)

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April 2013 CDC/NHSN Protocol Corrections,
Clarification, and Additions
(NOTE: These protocol edits have not yet been added to the current posted
NHSN protocols)
•

Errata [PDF - 291 KB] April 2013

Device-associated Events
VAP

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) Event
Introduction: In 2002, an estimated 250,000 healthcare-associated pneumonias
developed in U.S. hospitals and 36,000 of these were associated with deaths.1 Patients
with mechanically-assisted ventilation have a high risk of developing healthcareassociated pneumonia. For the year 2011, NHSN facilities reported more than 3,525
VAPs and the incidence for various types of hospital units ranged from 0.0-4.9 per 1,000
ventilator days.2
Prevention and control of healthcare-associated pneumonia is discussed in the
CDC/HICPAC document, Guidelines for Prevention of Healthcare-Associated
Pneumonia, 20033. The Guideline strongly recommends that surveillance be conducted
for bacterial pneumonia in ICU patients who are mechanically ventilated to facilitate
identification of trends and for inter-hospital comparisons.
Settings: Surveillance will occur in any inpatient pediatric or neonatal locations where
denominator data can be collected, which may include critical/intensive care units
(PICUs/NICUs), specialty care areas (SCA), step-down units, wards and long term care
units. In 2013, in-plan surveillance for ventilator-associated pneumonia (PNEU) using the
criteria found in this chapter will be restricted to patients <18 years old only. In 2013, in-plan
surveillance conducted for mechanically-ventilated patients ≥18 years will use the VentilatorAssociated Event (VAE) criteria and monitored under that protocol (see VAE chapter). The
PNEU definitions are still available for those units seeking to conduct off-plan PNEU
surveillance for mechanically-ventilated and non-ventilated adults or children. A complete
listing of inpatient locations and instructions for mapping can be found in the CDC
Locations and Descriptions chapter.
NOTE: It is not required to monitor for VAPs after the patient is discharged from the
facility. However, if discovered, any VAPs occurring on the day of discharge or the next
day should be reported to NHSN (see Transfer Rule below). No additional ventilator
days are reported.
Requirements: Surveillance for VAP will occur in at least one inpatient pediatric or
neonatal location in the healthcare institution for at least one calendar month as indicated
in the Patient Safety Monthly Reporting Plan (CDC 57.106).
Definitions:
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI): An infection is considered an HAI if all elements
of a CDC/NHSN site-specific infection criterion were first present together on or after the
3rd hospital day (day of hospital admission is day 1). For an HAI, an element of the
infection criterion may be present during the first 2 hospital days as long as it is also
present on or after day 3. All elements used to meet the infection criterion must occur
within a timeframe that does not exceed a gap of 1 calendar day between elements.

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Pneumonia (PNEU) is identified by using a combination of radiologic, clinical and
laboratory criteria. The following pages detail the various criteria that may be used for
meeting the surveillance definition of healthcare-associated pneumonia (Tables 2-5 and
Figures 1 and 2), general comments applicable to all specific site criteria, and reporting
instructions. Table 6 shows threshold values for cultured specimens used in the
surveillance diagnosis of pneumonia.
Date of event: For VAP the date of event is the date when the last element used to meet
the Pneumonia (PNEU) criteria occurred. Synonyms: infection date, date of infection.
Ventilator: A device to assist or control respiration continuously, inclusive of the
weaning period, through a tracheostomy or by endotracheal intubation.
NOTE: Lung expansion devices such as intermittent positive-pressure breathing (IPPB);
nasal positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP); and continuous nasal positive airway
pressure (CPAP, hypoCPAP) are not considered ventilators unless delivered via
tracheostomy or endotracheal intubation (e.g., ET-CPAP).
Ventilator-associated PNEU (VAP): A pneumonia where the patient is on mechanical
ventilation for >2 calendar days when all elements of the PNEU infection criterion were
first present together, with day of ventilator placement being Day 1,
and
the ventilator was in place on the date of event or the day before. If the patient is admitted
or transferred into a facility on a ventilator, the day of admission is considered Day1.
Location of attribution: The inpatient location where the patient was assigned on the date
of the VAP event, which is further defined as the date when the last element used to meet
the PNEU criterion occurred (see exception below).
EXCEPTION TO LOCATION OF ATTRIBUTION:
Transfer Rule: If all elements of a VAP are present within 2 days of transfer from one
inpatient location to another in the same facility or a new facility (i.e., on the day of
transfer or the next day), the infection is attributed to the transferring location or facility.
Receiving facilities should share information about such HAIs with the transferring
facility to enable reporting. This is called the Transfer Rule and examples are shown
below:
• Child has been on a ventilator for 7 days in the PICU and is transferred on the
ventilator to the pediatric surgical ward. On the next day, the patient meets the
criteria for PNEU. This is reported to NHSN as a VAP for the PICU.
• Child has been on a ventilator for 5 days and is transferred in the morning to the
pediatric medical ward from the pediatric medical critical care unit after having
ventilator discontinued. Later that night, the child meets criteria for a PNEU. This is
reported to NHSN as a VAP for the pediatric medical critical care unit.

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•

Pediatric patient on a ventilator is transferred from the neonatal intensive care unit
(NICU) to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). After 4 days in the PICU, the
patient meets the criteria for a PNEU. This is reported to NHSN as a VAP for the
PICU.
Pediatric patient on the Respiratory ICU (RICU) of Hospital A had the endotracheal
tube and ventilator removed after being on the ventilator for 5 days and is discharged
home a few hours later. The IP from Hospital B calls the next day to report that this
patient has been admitted to Hospital B with a PNEU. This VAP should be reported
to NHSN for, and by, Hospital A and attributed to the RICU. No additional ventilator
days for the RICU are reported.

EXCEPTION TO TRANSFER RULE: Locations that do not house patients overnight
(e.g., Emergency Department or Operating Room) will have no denominator data, i.e.,
patient days or catheter days. Therefore VAPs cannot be attributed to these locations.
Instead, the VAP must be attributed to the next inpatient location in which the patient
stays.
General comments applicable to all pneumonia specific site criteria:
1.
2.
3.

Physician’s diagnosis of pneumonia alone is not an acceptable criterion for
healthcare-associated pneumonia.
Although specific criteria are included for infants and children, pediatric patients
may meet any of the other pneumonia specific site criteria.
When assessing a patient for presence of pneumonia, it is important to distinguish
between changes in clinical status due to other conditions such as myocardial
infarction, pulmonary embolism, respiratory distress syndrome, atelectasis,
malignancy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hyaline membrane disease,
bronchopulmonary dysplasia, etc. Also, care must be taken when assessing
intubated patients to distinguish between tracheal colonization, upper respiratory
tract infections (e.g., tracheobronchitis), and early onset pneumonia. Finally, it
should be recognized that it may be difficult to determine healthcare-associated
pneumonia in the elderly, infants, and immunocompromised patients since such
conditions may mask typical signs or symptoms associated with pneumonia.
Alternate specific criteria for the elderly, infants and immunocompromised
patients have been included in this definition of healthcare-associated pneumonia.
Healthcare-associated pneumonia can be characterized by its onset: early or late.
Early-onset pneumonia occurs during the first four days of hospitalization and is
often caused by Moraxella catarrhalis, H. influenzae, and S. pneumoniae.
Causative agents of late-onset pneumonia are frequently Gram-negative bacilli or
S. aureus, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Viruses (e.g., Influenza A and
B or Respiratory Syncytial Virus) can cause early- and late-onset healthcareassociated pneumonia, whereas yeasts, fungi, legionellae, and Pneumocystis
carinii are usually pathogens of late-onset pneumonia.

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Pneumonia due to gross aspiration (for example, in the setting of intubation in the
field, emergency room, or operating room) is considered healthcare-associated if
it meets any specific criteria and the infection itself was not clearly present at the
time of admission to the hospital.
Multiple episodes of healthcare-associated pneumonia may occur in critically ill
patients with lengthy hospital stays. When determining whether to report multiple
episodes of healthcare-associated pneumonia in a single patient, look for evidence
of resolution of the initial infection. The addition of or change in pathogen alone
is not indicative of a new episode of pneumonia. The combination of new signs
and symptoms and radiographic evidence or other diagnostic testing is required.
Positive Gram’s stain for bacteria and positive KOH (potassium hydroxide)
mount for elastin fibers and/or fungal hyphae from appropriately collected sputum
specimens are important clues that point toward the etiology of the infection.
However, sputum samples are frequently contaminated with airway colonizers
and therefore must be interpreted cautiously. In particular, Candida is commonly
seen on stain, but infrequently causes healthcare-associated pneumonia, especially
in immunocompetent patients.

Table 1: Abbreviations used in PNEU laboratory criteria
BAL – bronchoalveolar lavage
LRT – lower respiratory tract
EIA – enzyme immunoassay
PCR – polymerase chain reaction
FAMA – fluorescent-antibody staining of PMN – polymorphonuclear leukocyte
membrane antigen
IFA – immunofluorescent antibody
RIA − radioimmunoassay
REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS:
• There is a hierarchy of specific categories within the major site pneumonia. Even if a
patient meets criteria for more than one specific site, report only one:
o If a patient meets criteria for both PNU1 and PNU2, report PNU2.
o If a patient meets criteria for both PNU2 and PNU3, report PNU3.
o If a patient meets criteria for both PNU1 and PNU3, report PNU3.
• Report concurrent lower respiratory tract infection (e.g., abscess or empyema) and
pneumonia with the same organism(s) as PNEU.
• Lung abscess or empyema without pneumonia is classified as LUNG.
• Bronchitis, tracheitis, tracheobronchitis, or bronchiolitis without pneumonia are
classified as BRON.

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Table 2: Specific Site Algorithms for Clinically Defined Pneumonia (PNU1)
Radiology

Signs/Symptoms/Laboratory

Two or more serial chest
radiographs with at least
one of the following1,2:

For ANY PATIENT, at least one of the following:

• New or progressive
and persistent
infiltrate
• Consolidation
• Cavitation
• Pneumatoceles, in
infants ≤1 year old

NOTE: In patients
without underlying
pulmonary or cardiac
disease (e.g., respiratory
distress syndrome,
bronchopulmonary
dysplasia, pulmonary
edema, or chronic
obstructive pulmonary
disease), one definitive
chest radiograph is
acceptable.1

• Fever (>38°C or >100.4°F)
• Leukopenia (<4000 WBC/mm3) or leukocytosis (>12,000 WBC/mm3)
• For adults >70 years old, altered mental status with no other recognized cause
and
at least two of the following:
• New onset of purulent sputum3, or change in character of sputum4, or increased
respiratory secretions, or increased suctioning requirements
• New onset or worsening cough, or dyspnea, or tachypnea5
• Rales6 or bronchial breath sounds
• Worsening gas exchange (e.g., O2 desaturations (e.g., PaO2/FiO2 <240)7, increased
oxygen requirements, or increased ventilator demand)
ALTERNATE CRITERIA, for infants <1 year old:
Worsening gas exchange (e.g., O2 desaturations [e.g. pulse oximetry <94%],
increased oxygen requirements, or increased ventilator demand)
and
at least three of the following:
• Temperature instability
• Leukopenia (<4000 WBC/mm3) or leukocytosis (>15,000 WBC/mm3) and left shift
(>10% band forms)
• New onset of purulent sputum3 or change in character of sputum4, or increased
respiratory secretions or increased suctioning requirements
• Apnea, tachypnea5 , nasal flaring with retraction of chest wall or grunting
• Wheezing, rales6, or rhonchi
• Cough
• Bradycardia (<100 beats/min) or tachycardia (>170 beats/min)
ALTERNATE CRITERIA, for child >1 year old or ≤12 years old, at least three of the
following:
• Fever (>38.4°C or >101.1°F) or hypothermia (<36.5°C or <97.7°F)
• Leukopenia (<4000 WBC/mm3) or leukocytosis (≥15,000 WBC/mm3)
• New onset of purulent sputum3, or change in character of sputum4, or increased
respiratory secretions, or increased suctioning requirements
• New onset or worsening cough, or dyspnea, apnea, or tachypnea5.
• Rales6 or bronchial breath sounds
• Worsening gas exchange (e.g., O2 desaturations [e.g., pulse oximetry <94%],
increased oxygen requirements, or increased ventilator demand)

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Table 3: Specific Site Algorithms for Pneumonia with Common Bacterial or
Filamentous Fungal Pathogens and Specific Laboratory Findings (PNU2)
Radiology

Signs/Symptoms

Laboratory

Two or more serial chest
radiographs with at least
one of the following1,2:

At least one of the following:

• New or progressive and
persistent infiltrate

• Leukopenia (<4000 WBC/mm )
or leukocytosis (>12,000
WBC/mm3)

• Consolidation
• Cavitation
• Pneumatoceles, in
infants ≤1 year old

• Fever (>38°C or >100.4°F)
3

• For adults >70 years old, altered
mental status with no other
recognized cause
and
at least one of the following:

January 2013

• New onset of purulent sputum3, or
change in character of sputum4, or
increased respiratory secretions,
or increased suctioning
requirements
• New onset or worsening cough, or
dyspnea or tachypnea5
• Rales6 or bronchial breath sounds
• Worsening gas exchange (e.g., O2
desaturations [e.g., PaO2/FiO2
<240]7, increased oxygen
requirements, or increased
ventilator demand)

6-6

• Positive growth in blood culture8 not
related to another source of infection
• Positive growth in culture of pleural fluid
• Positive quantitative culture9 from
minimally-contaminated LRT specimen
(e.g., BAL or protected specimen
brushing)
• ≥5% BAL-obtained cells contain
intracellular bacteria on direct
microscopic exam (e.g., Gram’s stain)
• Histopathologic exam shows at least one
of the following evidences of pneumonia:
− Abscess formation or foci of
consolidation with intense PMN
accumulation in bronchioles and
alveoli
− Positive quantitative culture9 of lung
parenchyma
− Evidence of lung parenchyma
invasion by fungal hyphae or
pseudohyphae

Device-associated Events
VAP

Table 4: Specific Site Algorithms for Viral, Legionella, and other Bacterial
Pneumonias with Definitive Laboratory Findings (PNU2)
Radiology

Signs/Symptoms

Laboratory

Two or more serial chest
radiographs with at least
one of the following1,2:

At least one of the following:

At least one of the following10-12:

• Fever (>38°C or >100.4°F)

• New or progressive
and persistent infiltrate

• Positive culture of virus or Chlamydia
from respiratory secretions

• Leukopenia (<4000 WBC/mm3) or
leukocytosis (>12,000 WBC/mm3)

• Consolidation

• For adults >70 years old, altered
mental status with no other
recognized cause

• Cavitation
• Pneumatoceles, in
infants ≤1 year old

and

• Positive detection of viral antigen or
antibody from respiratory secretions
(e.g., EIA, FAMA, shell vial assay,
PCR)
• Fourfold rise in paired sera (IgG) for
pathogen (e.g., influenza viruses,
Chlamydia)

at least one of the following:

January 2013

• New onset of purulent sputum3, or
change in character of sputum4, or
increased respiratory secretions, or
increased suctioning requirements
• New onset or worsening cough or
dyspnea, or tachypnea5
• Rales6 or bronchial breath sounds
• Worsening gas exchange (e.g., O2
desaturations [e.g., PaO2/FiO2
<240]7, increased oxygen
requirements, or increased
ventilator demand)

6-7

• Positive PCR for Chlamydia or
Mycoplasma
• Positive micro-IF test for Chlamydia
• Positive culture or visualization by
micro-IF of Legionella spp, from
respiratory secretions or tissue.
• Detection of Legionella pneumophila
serogroup 1 antigens in urine by RIA or
EIA
• Fourfold rise in L. pneumophila
serogroup 1 antibody titer to ≥1:128 in
paired acute and convalescent sera by
indirect IFA.

Device-associated Events
VAP

Table 5: Specific Site Algorithm for Pneumonia in Immunocompromised Patients (PNU3)
Radiology

Signs/Symptoms

Laboratory

Two or more serial chest
radiographs with at least
one of the following1,2:

Patient who is
immunocompromised13 has at least
one of the following:

At least one of the following:

• New or progressive
and persistent
infiltrate

• Fever (>38°C or >100.4°F)

• Consolidation
• Cavitation
• Pneumatoceles, in
infants ≤1 year old

• For adults >70 years old, altered
mental status with no other
recognized cause
• New onset of purulent sputum3,
or change in character of
sputum4, or increased respiratory
secretions, or increased
suctioning requirements
• New onset or worsening cough,
or dyspnea, or tachypnea5

• Matching positive blood and sputum
cultures with Candida spp.14,15
• Evidence of fungi or Pneumocystis carinii
from minimally-contaminated LRT
specimen (e.g., BAL or protected specimen
brushing) from one of the following:
− Direct microscopic exam
− Positive culture of fungi
Any of the following from
LABORATORY CRITERIA DEFINED
UNDER PNU2

• Rales6 or bronchial breath sounds
• Worsening gas exchange (e.g.,
O2 desaturations [e.g., PaO2/FiO2
<240]7, increased oxygen
requirements, or increased
ventilator demand)
• Hemoptysis
• Pleuritic chest pain

Footnotes to Algorithms:
1. Occasionally, in nonventilated patients, the diagnosis of healthcare-associated pneumonia may be quite
clear on the basis of symptoms, signs, and a single definitive chest radiograph. However, in patients with
pulmonary or cardiac disease (for example, interstitial lung disease or congestive heart failure), the diagnosis
of pneumonia may be particularly difficult. Other non-infectious conditions (for example, pulmonary edema
from decompensated congestive heart failure) may simulate the presentation of pneumonia. In these more
difficult cases, serial chest radiographs must be examined to help separate infectious from non-infectious
pulmonary processes. To help confirm difficult cases, it may be useful to review radiographs on the day of
diagnosis, 3 days prior to the diagnosis and on days 2 and 7 after the diagnosis. Pneumonia may have rapid
onset and progression, but does not resolve quickly. Radiographic changes of pneumonia persist for several
weeks. As a result, rapid radiographic resolution suggests that the patient does not have pneumonia, but rather
a non-infectious process such as atelectasis or congestive heart failure.

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VAP

2. Note that there are many ways of describing the radiographic appearance of pneumonia. Examples include,
but are not limited to, “air-space disease”, “focal opacification”, “patchy areas of increased density”.
Although perhaps not specifically delineated as pneumonia by the radiologist, in the appropriate clinical
setting these alternative descriptive wordings should be seriously considered as potentially positive findings.
3. Purulent sputum is defined as secretions from the lungs, bronchi, or trachea that contain >25 neutrophils
and <10 squamous epithelial cells per low power field (x100). If your laboratory reports these data
qualitatively (e.g., “many WBCs” or “few squames”), be sure their descriptors match this definition of
purulent sputum. This laboratory confirmation is required since written clinical descriptions of purulence are
highly variable.
4. A single notation of either purulent sputum or change in character of the sputum is not meaningful;
repeated notations over a 24-hour period would be more indicative of the onset of an infectious process.
Change in character of sputum refers to the color, consistency, odor and quantity.
5. In adults, tachypnea is defined as respiration rate >25 breaths per minute. Tachypnea is defined as >75
breaths per minute in premature infants born at <37 weeks gestation and until the 40th week; >60 breaths per
minute in patients <2 months old; >50 breaths per minute in patients 2-12 months old; and >30 breaths per
minute in children >1 year old.
6. Rales may be described as “crackles”.
7. This measure of arterial oxygenation is defined as the ratio of the arterial tension (PaO2) to the inspiratory
fraction of oxygen (FiO2).
8. Care must be taken to determine the etiology of pneumonia in a patient with positive blood cultures and
radiographic evidence of pneumonia, especially if the patient has invasive devices in place such as
intravascular lines or an indwelling urinary catheter. In general, in an immunocompetent patient, blood
cultures positive for coagulase-negative staphylococci, common skin contaminants, and yeasts will not be the
etiologic agent of the pneumonia.
9. Refer to threshold values for cultured specimens (Table 6). An endotracheal aspirate is not a minimallycontaminated specimen. Therefore, an endotracheal aspirate does not meet the laboratory criteria for PNU2
or PNU3.
10. Once laboratory-confirmed cases of pneumonia due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, or
influenza virus have been identified in a hospital, a clinician’s presumptive diagnosis of these pathogens in
subsequent cases with similar clinical signs and symptoms is an acceptable criterion for presence of
healthcare-associated infection.
11. Scant or watery sputum is commonly seen in adults with pneumonia due to viruses and Mycoplasma
although sometimes the sputum may be mucopurulent. In infants, pneumonia due to RSV or influenza yields
copious sputum. Patients, except premature infants, with viral or mycoplasmal pneumonia may exhibit few
signs or symptoms, even when significant infiltrates are present on radiographic exam.
12. Few bacteria may be seen on stains of respiratory secretions from patients with pneumonia due to
Legionella spp, mycoplasma, or viruses.
13. Immunocompromised patients include those with neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <500/mm3),
leukemia, lymphoma, HIV with CD4 count <200, or splenectomy; those who are early post-transplant, are on
cytotoxic chemotherapy, or are on high dose steroids (e.g., >40mg of prednisone or its equivalent (>160mg
hydrocortisone, >32mg methylprednisolone, >6mg dexamethasone, >200mg cortisone) daily for >2weeks).
14. Blood and sputum specimens must be collected within 48 hours of each other.
15. Semiquantitative or nonquantitative cultures of sputum obtained by deep cough, induction, aspiration, or
lavage are acceptable. If quantitative culture results are available, refer to algorithms that include such
specific laboratory findings.

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VAP

Figure 1: Pneumonia Flow Diagram
PNEUMONIA FLOW DIAGRAM
Facility ID # _____________

Event # _____________

Event Date _ ___/___

_/_________

X-Ray

I nstructions: Complete f orm only if x-ray criteria are met
Patient with under lying diseases1 ,2 has 2 or m or e
ser ial X-r ays with one of the following:

Patient without under lying diseases1 ,2
ser ial X-r ays with one of the following:

has 1 or m or e



New or progressive



New or progressive

infiltrate



Consolidation



Consolidation



Cavitation



Cavitation



Pneumatoceles,



Pneumatoceles,

and persistent

infiltrate

in ≤1 y.o.

Signs and Symptoms



Fever (>38° C/100.4° F)



Leukopenia (<4,000 WBC/mm³) or leukocytosis
(>12,000 WBC/mm³)

At least one of the following:



New onset of purulent sputum,3
or change in character of
sputum, or ↑ respiratory
secretions, or ↑ suctioning
requirements4
New onset or worsening cough,
or dyspnea, or tachypnea5
Rales6 or bronchial breath
sounds

New onset of purulent sputum,3
or change in character of sputum,
or ↑ respiratory secretions, or
↑ suctioning requirements4



New onset or worsening cough,
or dyspnea, or tachypnea5



Rales6 or bronchial breath
sounds



Worsening gas exchange (e.g.,
O2 desats [e.g., PaO2 /FiO2
<240],7 ↑ O2 req, or ↑ ventilation
demand)

Worsening gas exchange (e.g.,
O2 desats [e.g., PaO2 /FiO2
<240],7 ↑ O2 req, or
↑
ventilation demand)

Laboratory



At least one of the following:

At least one of the following1 0 -1 2 :



Positive blood culture not
related to another infection8



Positive pleural fluid culture

Positive culture of virus or
Chlamydia from respiratory
secretions



Positive quantitative culture9
from minimally-contaminated
LRT specimen (e.g., BAL or
protected specimen
brushing)



Positive detection of viral antigen
or antibody from respiratory
secretions (e.g., EIA, FAMA, shell
vial assay, PCR)



> 5% BAL-obtained cells
contain intracellular bacteria
on direct microscopic exam

4-fold rise in paired sera (IgG) for
pathogen (e.g., Influenza viruses,
Chlamydia)



Histopathologic exam shows
one of the following:

Positive PCR for Chlamydia or
Mycoplasma



Positive micro-IF
Chlamydia



Positive culture or micro-IF of
Legionella spp from respiratory
secretions or tissue



Detection of Legionella
pneumophila serogroup 1
antigens in urine by RIA or EIA



4-fold rise in L. pneumophila
antibody titer to >1:128 in paired
acute and convalescent sera by
indirect IFA

• Abscess formation or foci
of consolidation with
intense PMN
accumulation in
bronchioles and alveoli
•

Positive quantitative
culture9 of lung
parenchyma

• Evidence of lung
parenchyma invasion by
fungal hyphae or
pseudohyphae



PNU2: Pneum onia with
com m on bacter ial or
filam entous fungal pathogens
 PNU1: Clinicallydefined pneum onia

January 2013



Fever (>38° C/100.4° F)



Altered mental status with no
other cause, in >70 y.o.



New onset of purulent sputum,3 or
change in character of sputum, or
↑ respiratory secretions, or
↑ suctioning requirements4



New onset or worsening
dyspnea, or tachypnea5

Altered mental status with no other cause, in >70 y.o.

At least two of the following:



and specific

in ≤1 y.o.

At least one of the following in an
im m unocom pr om ised patient1 3 :

At least one of the following:



and persistent

lab findings




Worsening gas exchange (e.g., O2
desats [e.g., PaO2 /FiO2 <240],7
↑ O2 req, or ↑ ventilation demand)



Hemoptysis



Pleuritic chest pain

or bronchial breath sounds

At least one of following:


Matching positive blood
and sputum cultures with
Candida spp1 4 ,1 5



Evidence of fungi or
Pneumocytis carinii from
minimally contaminated
LRT specimen (e.g., BAL
or protected specimen
brushing) from one of the
following:

test for

 PNU2: Pneum onia with
vir al, Legionella,
Chlam ydia,
Mycoplasm a, and other
uncom m on pathogens
and
specific lab findings

6-10

cough, or

Rales6



•

Direct microscopic
exam

•

Positive culture of
fungi

PNU3: Pneum onia in
im m unocom pr om ised
patients

Device-associated Events
VAP

Figure 2: Pneumonia Flow Diagram, Alternative Criteria for Infants and Children

PNEUMONIA FLOW DIAGRAM
ALTERNATE CRITERIA FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN
Facility ID #__________________

Event #__________________

Event Date____/_____/________

Instructions: Complete form only if x-ray criteria are met

Signs and Symptoms

X-Ray

1,2

Patient with underlying diseases has 2 or more
serial X-rays with one of the following:

Patient without underlying diseases has 1 or more
serial X-rays with one of the following:






New or progressive and persistent infiltrate
Consolidation
Cavitation
Pneumatoceles, in ≤1 y.o.

Infants ≤1 y.o.

Children >1 or ≤12 y.o.



At least three of the following:

Worsening gas exchange (e.g., O2 desats
[e.g., pulse oximetry <94%], ↑
⁭ O2 req. or ⁭
↑ ventilation demand)



Fever (>38.4°C/101.1°F) or hypothermia
(<36.5°C/97.9°F)

and three of the following:






Temperature instability

Leukopenia (<4,000 WBC/mm3) or
leukocytosis (≥15,000 WBC/mm3)



New onset of purulent sputum,3 or change
in character of sputum,4 or ⁭ ↑ respiratory
secretions, or ↑ suctioning requirements



New onset of purulent sputum,3 or change
in character of sputum4, or ↑⁭ respiratory
secretions, or ↑⁭ suctioning requirements



New onset of worsening cough, or
dyspnea, apnea, or tachypnea6




Rales6 or bronchial breath sounds

⁭

Leukopenia (<4,000 WBC/mm3) or
leukocytosis (≥15,000 WBC/mm3) and left
shift (≥10% band forms)



Apnea, tachypnea5, nasal flaring with
retraction of chest wall or grunting.





Wheezing, rales6, or rhonchi
Cough
Bradycardia (<100 beats/min) or
tachycardia (>170 beats/min)

 PNU1:
Clinically-defined pneumonia

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Worsening gas exchange (e.g., O2 desats
[e.g., pulse oximetry <94%], ↑
⁭ O2 req. or ⁭
↑ ventilation demand)

Device-associated Events
VAP

Table 6: Threshold values for cultured specimens used in the diagnosis of pneumonia
Specimen collection/technique
Values
>104 CFU/g tissue

Lung parenchyma*
Bronchoscopically (B) obtained specimens
Bronchoalveolar lavage (B-BAL)
Protected BAL (B-PBAL)
Protected specimen brushing (B-PSB)

>104 CFU/ml
>104 CFU/ml
>103 CFU/ml

Nonbronchoscopically (NB) obtained (blind) specimens
NB-BAL
>104 CFU/ml
NB-PSB
>103 CFU/ml
CFU = colony forming units
g = gram
ml = milliliter
* Open-lung biopsy specimens and immediate post-mortem specimens obtained by
transthoracic or transbronchial biopsy
Numerator Data: The Pneumonia (PNEU) form (CDC 57.111) is used to collect and
report each VAP that is identified during the month selected for surveillance. The
Instructions for Completion of Pneumonia (PNEU) Form contains brief instructions for
collection and entry of each data element on the form. The pneumonia form includes
patient demographic information and information on whether or not mechanicallyassisted ventilation was present. Additional data include the specific criteria met for
identifying pneumonia, whether the patient developed a secondary bloodstream infection,
whether the patient died, the organisms isolated from cultures, and the organisms’
antimicrobial susceptibilities.
REPORTING INSTRUCTION:
• If no VAPs are identified during the month of surveillance, the Report No Events
box must be checked on the appropriate denominator summary screen, e.g.,
Denominators for Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Other Locations (Not NICU or
SCA/ONC), etc.
Denominator Data: Device days and patient days are used for denominators (see Key
Terms chapter). Ventilator days, which are the number of patients managed with a
ventilatory device, are collected daily, at the same time each day, according to the chosen
location using the appropriate form (CDC 57.116, 57.117, and 57.118). These daily
counts are summed and only the total for the month is entered into NHSN. Ventilator
days and patient days are collected for each of the locations monitored. When
denominator data are available from electronic sources (e.g., ventilator days from
respiratory therapy), these sources may be used as long as the counts are not substantially
different (+/- 5%) from manually-collected counts, validated for a minimum of 3 months.

January 2013

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Device-associated Events
VAP

Data Analyses: The Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR4) is calculated by dividing the
number of observed infections by the number of expected infections. The number of
expected infections, in the context of statistical prediction, is calculated using VAP rates
from a standard population during a baseline time period, which represents a standard
population’s VAP experience.5
NOTE: The SIR will be calculated only if the number of expected HAIs (numExp) is ≥1.

While the PNEU SIR can be calculated for single locations, the measure also allows you
to summarize your data by multiple locations, adjusting for differences in the incidence
of infection among the location types. For example, you will be able to obtain one PNEU
SIR adjusting for all locations reported. Similarly, you can obtain one PNEU SIR for all
specialty care areas in your facility.
The VAP rate per 1000 ventilator days is calculated by dividing the number of VAPs by
the number of ventilator days and multiplying the result by 1000. The Ventilator
Utilization Ratio is calculated by dividing the number of ventilator days by the number of
patient days. These calculations will be performed separately for the different types of
ICUs, SCAs, and other locations in the institution, as well as by each birthweight
category in NICUs.

___________________________________________________
1

Klevens RM, Edward JR, Richards CL, et al. Estimating health care-associated infections and deaths in
U.S. hospitals, 2002. Public Health Reports 2007;122:160-166.
2

Dudeck MA, Horan TC, Peterson KD, et al. National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Report, Data
Summary for 2011, Device-associated Module. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/dataStat/2012NHSNReport.pdf.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidelines for preventing health-care-associated pneumonia,
2003: recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee.
MMWR 2004;53(No. RR-3).
4

Your guide to the Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR). October 2010.
http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/Newsletters/NHSN_NL_OCT_2010SE_final.pdf
5

Edwards JR, Peterson KD, Mu Y, et al. National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) report: Data
summary for 2006 through 2008, issued December 2009. Am J Infect Control 2009;37:783-805. Available
at: http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/dataStat/2009NHSNReport.PDF.

January 2013

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Author	CDC User
File Modified	2013-04-05
File Created	2013-04-05