title: Role of bronchial brushings in AIDS with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
abstract: We evaluated the efficacy of bronchial brushings in detecting Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients with AIDS. Bronchial brushings were performed on 20 occasions in 15 patients. Nine of the 20 bronchial brushings were performed through an endotracheal tube without using a bronchoscope. Twelve of the 20 were positive for Pneumocystis carinii and 8 were negative. The initial diagnostic yield was 84%, the overall sensitivity 86%, and the predictive value of a negative test was 75%. These data suggest that bronchial brushings could be used as the sole initial technique in the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology