Diagnosis of Pneumonia Using Nonbronchoscopic Techniques

MICROBIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF PNEUMONIA USING NONBRONCHOSCOPIC TECHNIQUES 

Expectorated sputum and tracheal aspirate specimens obtained by direct suctioning through the endotracheal tube in mechanically ventilated patients are easily obtained but notoriously nonspecific in the diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia. Bartlett et al. prospectively evaluated cultures of expectorated sputum in 67 patients with nosocomial pneumonia whose final diagnosis was based on bacterial studies from uncontamined specimens (blood, transtracheal 

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Even when the clinical diagnosis of pneumonia is accurate, results of Gram s stain examination and culture of tracheal aspirates could be misleading when choosing the appropriate antibiotics. In the study by Fagon et al., only 

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III. MICROBIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF PNEUMONIA USING NONBRONCHOSCOPIC TECHNIQUES... 

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