1 inical diagnosis of PN (fever, leukocytosis, purulent sputum, and new or changing infiltrate on chest

2                                              Purulent sputum from patients with chronic obstructive p

3 merged; and that (2) the presence of chronic purulent sputum (hazard ratio [HR], 2.8 [95% confidence

4 e with at least 2 of fever, leukocytosis, or purulent sputum increases the likelihood of VAP (summary

5 demonstrated to result in the chronic cough, purulent sputum production, and airway dilation that cha

6                      The presence of chronic purulent sputum production, number of PPMs isolated in s