🫁 Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS)
Support diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia with the CPIS.
Clinical takeaway
Only moderate accuracy for VAP.
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When to use
Adjunct to clinical judgement in suspected VAP.
How it works
Temperature, WBC, secretions, PaO₂/FiO₂, chest radiograph and culture — each 0–2. > 6 suggests pneumonia.
Key points
- Only moderate accuracy for VAP.
- Not a sole basis for antibiotic decisions.
- Combine with microbiology and clinical course.
References
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Temperature | 36.5–38.4 °C (0) |
|---|---|
| WBC (×10⁹/L) | 4–11 (0) |
| Tracheal secretions | None (0) |
| PaO₂/FiO₂ | > 240 or ARDS (0) |
| Chest radiograph | No infiltrate (0) |
| Tracheal aspirate culture | None/light growth (0) |
→CPIS0/12
- Interpretation：≤ 6 — pneumonia less likely
- Note：CPIS has only moderate accuracy for VAP; use alongside clinical judgement and microbiology, not as a sole criterion.
| Temperature | ≥ 39 or ≤ 36 (2) |
|---|---|
| WBC (×10⁹/L) | Plus bands ≥ 50% (2) |
| Tracheal secretions | Purulent (2) |
| PaO₂/FiO₂ | ≤ 240, no ARDS (2) |
| Chest radiograph | Localised (2) |
| Tracheal aspirate culture | Plus same on Gram stain (2) |
→CPIS12/12
- Interpretation：> 6 — pneumonia likely
- Note：CPIS has only moderate accuracy for VAP; use alongside clinical judgement and microbiology, not as a sole criterion.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS)?
- Support diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia with the CPIS.
- How is Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) calculated? What is the core formula?
- Temperature, WBC, secretions, PaO₂/FiO₂, chest radiograph and culture — each 0–2. > 6 suggests pneumonia.
- When is Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) used?
- Adjunct to clinical judgement in suspected VAP.
- What are the key clinical points for Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS)?
- Only moderate accuracy for VAP. Not a sole basis for antibiotic decisions. Combine with microbiology and clinical course.
- What are the limits and cautions when using Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS)?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- How is Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Temperature 36.5–38.4 °C (0), WBC (×10⁹/L) 4–11 (0), Tracheal secretions None (0), PaO₂/FiO₂ > 240 or ARDS (0), Chest radiograph No infiltrate (0), Tracheal aspirate culture None/light growth (0) → Result: CPIS 0 /12（Interpretation: ≤ 6 — pneumonia less likely, Note: CPIS has only moderate accuracy for VAP; use alongside clinical judgement and microbiology, not as a sole criterion.） Inputs: Temperature ≥ 39 or ≤ 36 (2), WBC (×10⁹/L) Plus bands ≥ 50% (2), Tracheal secretions Purulent (2), PaO₂/FiO₂ ≤ 240, no ARDS (2), Chest radiograph Localised (2), Tracheal aspirate culture Plus same on Gram stain (2) → Result: CPIS 12 /12（Interpretation: > 6 — pneumonia likely, Note: CPIS has only moderate accuracy for VAP; use alongside clinical judgement and microbiology, not as a sole criterion.）