• F B Louthan and G U Meduri.
• Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Tennessee-Memphis 38163, USA.
• Semin Respir Infect. 1996 Jun 1;11(2):77-95.

AbstractSepsis continues to represent a major threat to the recovery of mechanically ventilated patients and a serious challenge to physicians in charge of their care. Diagnosis of pneumonia is made difficult by numerous infectious and noninfectious conditions that may present in a clinically similar fashion. Clinical criteria are insensitive in identifying extrapulmonary sources of fever. Furthermore, several pathologic conditions may coexist in a single patient, making correct diagnosis and treatment even more difficult. A thorough understanding of the various causes of fever and pulmonary densities, other than pneumonia, is necessary to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. This understanding then allows a systematic approach to diagnosis using the most appropriate tests.

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