Presepsin as an Early Biomarker for Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP) Diagnosis in COVID-19 Patients: a Prospective Double Blind Observational Study

This study is observational and double blind. It evaluates the validity of presepsin (a serum biomarker of bacterial infections) as early biomarker of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia. It will be measured at day 0 (ICU admission) and every 48 hours in every patient with Sars-Cov 2 interstitial pneumonia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (see inclusion ad exclusion criteria) until Day 30, ICU discharge or ICU death. There will be no change in clinical practice and in pneumonia diagnosis. We will examine how the elevation of presepsin level could be an early marker of ventilator associated pneumonia or a marker of bacterial pneumonia at ICU admission, before the microbiological results or clinical diagnosis.