title: [Lower respiratory tract flora in intubated patients].
abstract: 200 lower respiratory tract (LRT) aspirates were taken via endotracheal intubates in 49 respiratory failure patients for quantitative bacterial cultures. 373 strains of bacteria and fungi were isolated and 63.3% were gram negative bacilli (GNB). During intubation, the isolation rate of Pseudomonas species gradually increased. In recent years, Enterobacteriaceae species, S. pneumoniae and S. aureus as LRT flora are decreasing, but Pseudomonas species, is increasing. The bacteria in aspirates with concentration higher than 10(5)CFU/ml could be considered as etiologic bacteria. Accordingly we estimated that the GNB infection rate was 81.6% and fatality rate was 15.0% in these 49 cases. Bacteriologic survey of the patients' oropharynx, respiratory instrument and the medical workers' finger skin suggested that besides the descending of oropharynx flora, environmental bacteria may also form LRT flora via endotracheal intubates.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy