CPIS is used to assess ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients on mechanical ventilation.

• A. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
• B. Pulmonary edema
• C. ARDS
• D. Pneumonia outside ICU

Answer: (A)

CPIS, the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score, is used to assess ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients on mechanical ventilation. It combines clinical signs (like fever and white blood cell count), tracheal secretions, oxygenation status, radiographic findings, and microbiology or antibiotic decisions into a score that helps differentiate infection related to ventilation from other lung problems. A higher score supports a diagnosis of VAP and can guide management in intubated patients. The other conditions—pulmonary edema, ARDS, or pneumonia not occurring in the ICU setting—are not what CPIS is designed to quantify, since CPIS specifically targets infection developing during mechanical ventilation.