Criteria for Postoperative Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia

Has the patient developed respiratory symptoms after surgery?

Was there evidence a respiratory infection prior to surgery?

Does a physical examination of the chest show the new onset of rales or dullness to percussion?

Does a chest X-ray show a new or progressive lung infiltrate, consolidation, cavitation or pleural effusion?

• the new onset of purulent sputum or change in sputum character?

• isolation of a potential pathogen from a blood culture?

• isolation of a potential pathogen from lung biopsy, bronchial brushing, or transtracheal aspirate?

• isolation of virus or detection of viral antigen from a respiratory specimen?

• serologic evidence of infection (IgM antibody or four-fold rise in IgG antibodies in paired serum samples)?

• histopathologic evidence of pneumonia?