title: Experience with flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage as a diagnostic tool in children with AIDS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report our experience with flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage in children with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and acute lower respiratory tract disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children's Medical Center of Brooklyn, NY, a tertiary-level inner-city hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and acute lower respiratory tract disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred five flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopies with bronchoalveolar lavages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infective agents were recovered in 88 procedures (84%). Potentially pathogenic bacteria were identified in 56 (56.6%) of 99 procedures. Viruses were found in 28 (29%) of 96 lavages, and fungi in 37 (41.6%) of 89 specimens. Pneumocystis carinii was identified in 22 (22.2%) of 99 specimens. Mycobacteria were isolated from 14 (14%) of 100 specimens. A serious complication occurred in only one procedure (0.95%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage is a safe and effective diagnostic procedure that identified infective agents in 80% of children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and concomitant acute lower respiratory tract disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Children's Medical Center of Brooklyn, NY.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Abadco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amaro-Galvez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000293:Adolescent; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods