Table 2.
Experts panel preference in VAP diagnosis (in proportion 0–10)
| Imaging techniques | Microbiological tests | Biomarkers | Other laboratory techniques | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray | 8.5 | BAL culture | 8.0 | PCT | 8.4 | Gram stain | 8.3 |
| Chest CT | 7.8 | Mini-BAL culture | 7.0 | CRP | 8.0 | MALDI-TOF | 7.5 |
| Lung ultrasound | 6.3 | ET aspirate | 5.8 | WBC | 6.3 | Gene Expert® | 6.8 |
| None | 2.5 | Blood cultures | 5.3 | Pro-ADM | 5.0 | Multiplex PCR | 6.5 |
| Telescopic catheter | 6.3 | None | 4.7 | PCR tests | 6.1 | ||
| Transbronchial biopsy | 2.5 | IL6 | 3.9 | Rapid automated microscopy | 4.8 | ||
| IL 10 | 3.7 | Serological tests | 3.9 | ||||
| None | 1.3 | ||||||
BAL bronchoalveolar lavage, ET aspirate endotracheal aspirate, Pro-ADMI pro-adrenomedullin