Biomarker Kinetics in VAP

Patients under mechanical ventilation are at risk for several problems and complications, in particular ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The diagnosis of VAP results from a combination of radiologic findings, signs, and symptoms of lower-respiratory-tract infection, and microbiologic criteria. It is consensual that the definition of VAP is neither valid nor reliable. Several criteria are recognized as being inaccurate and subjective. With this scenario, there is need for improvement, and serum biomarkers, namely their, could bring additional information to improve the diagnosis and the management of VAP. Changes in biomarker concentrations over time, that is the kinetics, could be potentially useful in VAP prediction and diagnosis and in monitoring the response to antibiotic therapy. ©