RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Pulmonary Infiltrates in Immunosuppressed Patients: Analysis of a Diagnostic Protocol
JF Journal of Clinical Microbiology
JO J. Clin. Microbiol.
FD American Society for Microbiology
SP 2134
OP 2140
DO 10.1128/JCM.40.6.2134-2140.2002
VO 40
IS 6
A1 Danés, Cristina
A1 González-Martín, Julián
A1 Pumarola, Tomàs
A1 Rañó, Ana
A1 Benito, Natividad
A1 Torres, Antoni
A1 Moreno, Asunción
A1 Rovira, Montserrat
A1 Puig de la Bellacasa, Jorge
YR 2002
UL http://jcm.asm.org/content/40/6/2134.abstract
AB A diagnostic protocol was started to study the etiology of pulmonary infiltrates in immunosuppressed patients. The diagnostic yields of the different techniques were analyzed, with special emphasis on the importance of the sample quality and the role of rapid techniques in the diagnostic strategy. In total, 241 patients with newly developed pulmonary infiltrates within a period of 19 months were included. Noninvasive or invasive evaluation was performed according to the characteristics of the infiltrates. Diagnosis was achieved in 202 patients (84%); 173 patients (72%) had pneumonia, and specific etiologic agents were found in 114 (66%). Bronchoaspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage showed the highest yields, either on global analysis (23 of 35 specimens [66%] and 70 of 134 specimens [52%], respectively) or on analysis of each type of pneumonia. A tendency toward better results with optimal-quality samples was observed, and a statistically significant difference was found in sputum bacterial culture. Rapid diagnostic tests yielded results in 71 of 114 (62.2%) diagnoses of etiological pneumonia.