Interobserver variability in ventilator-associated pneumonia surveillance

Three infection control personnel and 1 physician independently evaluated 50 ventilated patients for ventilator-associated pneumonia through retrospective chart reviews. The infection control reviewers used Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria; the physician used clinical judgment. Infection control personnel labelled between 11 and 20 patients with VAP (kappa = 0.40). The physician diagnosed 7 cases. Interobserver variability in the assessment of ventilator-associated pneumonia is high.