. 2019 Jul 24:223–229. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-26710-0_29

Table 29.2.

National health safety network definition of ventilator-associated event

Type of ventilator-associated event	Definition
Ventilator-associated condition (VAC)	Either: 1. An increase in daily minimum FiO₂ ≥ 0.20 OR 2. An increase in daily minimum PEEP values of ≥3 cmH₂O Either must be sustained for 2 or more calendar days
Infection-related ventilator-associated condition (iVAC)	VAC PLUS 1. Temperature > 38° or < 36° OR WBC ≥ 12,000 cells/mm³ or ≤4000 cells/mm³ AND 2. A new antimicrobial started and continued for 4 or more days
Possible ventilator associated pneumonia	iVAC PLUS 1. A positive qualitative, semi-qualitative, or quantitative culture of endotracheal aspirate (≥105 CFU/mL), bronchoalveolar lavage (≥104 CFU/mL), lung tissue (≥104 CFU/mL) or protected specimen brushing (≥103 CFU/mL) without purulent respiratory secretions OR 2. Purulent respiratory secretions PLUS a positive qualitative, semi-qualitative, or quantitative culture of sputum, endotracheal aspirate, bronchoalveolar lavage, lung tissue or protected specimen brushing that does not meet sufficient growth criteria from #1 OR 3. Organisms identified from pleural fluid, lung histopathology indicating abscess formation, positive Legionella species, or positive respiratory secretions for influenza, respiratory sysncytial virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, coronavirus

Type of ventilator-associated event

Definition

Ventilator-associated condition (VAC)

Either:

1. An increase in daily minimum FiO₂ ≥ 0.20

2. An increase in daily minimum PEEP values of ≥3 cmH₂O

Either must be sustained for 2 or more calendar days

Infection-related ventilator-associated condition (iVAC)

VAC

PLUS

1. Temperature > 38° or < 36° OR WBC ≥ 12,000 cells/mm³ or ≤4000 cells/mm³

AND

2. A new antimicrobial started and continued for 4 or more days

Possible ventilator associated pneumonia

iVAC

PLUS

1. A positive qualitative, semi-qualitative, or quantitative culture of endotracheal aspirate (≥105 CFU/mL), bronchoalveolar lavage (≥104 CFU/mL), lung tissue (≥104 CFU/mL) or protected specimen brushing (≥103 CFU/mL) without purulent respiratory secretions

2. Purulent respiratory secretions PLUS a positive qualitative, semi-qualitative, or quantitative culture of sputum, endotracheal aspirate, bronchoalveolar lavage, lung tissue or protected specimen brushing that does not meet sufficient growth criteria from #1

3. Organisms identified from pleural fluid, lung histopathology indicating abscess formation, positive Legionella species, or positive respiratory secretions for influenza, respiratory sysncytial virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, coronavirus

A patient must be intubated with stable ventilator settings for 2 or more days before this may be applied