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.