Modelling treatment effects in a clinical Bayesian network using Boolean threshold functions

摘要

ObjectiveAppropriate antimicrobial treatment of infections in critically ill patients should be started as soon as possible, as delay in treatment may reduce a patient’s prognostic outlook considerably. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) occurs in patients in intensive care units who are mechanically ventilated and is almost always preceded by colonisation of the respiratory tract by the causative microorganisms. It is very difficult to clinically diagnose VAP and, therefore, some form of computer-based decision support might be helpful for the clinician.