Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 is increased in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia: a preliminary report.

Rationale: The diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can be difficult. Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 (sTREM-1) has been reported to be elevated in BAL fluid from patients with VAP.

Objectives: To evaluate the utility of sTREM-1 in the diagnosis of VAP in BAL fluid and the fluid collected in the expiratory trap from the ventilator, the exhaled ventilator condensate (EVC).