title: Diagnostic accuracy of clinical pulmonary infection score for ventilator-associated pneumonia: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the clinical pulmonary infection score in the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched PubMed and the Cochrane database, and included only studies that compared clinical pulmonary infection score with quantitative microbiological analysis of samples for diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia. We constructed 2-by-2 tables of diagnostic accuracy from each article, and meta-analyzed the results by pooling estimates of sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio for positive index test, likelihood ratio for negative index test, diagnostic odds ratio, and 95% confidence intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled estimates for sensitivity and specificity for clinical pulmonary infection score were 65% (95% CI 61-69%) and 64% (95% CI 60-67%), respectively. The combined diagnostic odds ratio was 4.85 (95% CI 2.42-9.71) and the area under the curve was 0.748 (95% CI 0.65-0.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnostic performance of the clinical pulmonary infection score for ventilator-associated pneumonia is moderate. However, the clinical pulmonary infection score is simple and easy to perform, and may still be useful in diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Nantong University, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. shjun_2008@163.com
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Hong-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents