In<unk> ised patient who develop respiratory symptoms and fever one should consider the diagnosis.  The likelyhood increases when upon investigation symptoms are found of respiratory insufficiency, purulent secretions, newly developed infiltrate on the chest X-Ray, and increasing leucocyte count.  If<unk>  is suspected material from sputum or tracheal aspirates are sent for cultures.  In case of pleural effusion thoracentesis is performed for examination of pleural fluid. Ventilator associated<unk>  refers to<unk>  arising in patients who have stayed on a ventilator for more than 48–72 hours. Additionally, patients with health-care associated<unk>  who may require intubation should be treated as ventilator associated<unk> . In suspected ventilator-associated<unk>  it has been suggested that bronchoscopy(BAL) is necessary because of the known risks surrounding clinical diagnoses.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia diagnostic criteria
Community-acquired pneumonia diagnostic criteria
Pneumonia diagnostic criteria
Aspiration pneumonia classification
Hospital-acquired pneumonia laboratory findings
Community-acquired pneumonia laboratory findings
Community-acquired pneumonia severity criteria
Acute respiratory distress syndrome classification