Biomarkers in lower respiratory tract samples in the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia : a systematic review
BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common intensive care unit-acquired infection, yet its diagnosis is complicated by the lack of reliable diagnostic criteria and validated biomarkers. Due to the compartmentalisation of the immune response, host proteins in respiratory tract samples are more likely than serum proteins to accurately identify VAP. However, a reliable bioma
