[Pneumonia diagnosed with bronchoscopy in HIV-positive patients].
BACKGROUND
The object of our research is to analyse the microbiological results of the samples which have been obtained by means of fibronchoscopy (FB) from HIV positive patients from 1991 until 1993.


METHODS
Sixty fibrobronchoscopies were carried out on fifty-seven HIV positive patients. In every case, samples of bronchoaspirate (BAS), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and telescoping plugged catheter (TPC) were cultured; the last two in a quantitative way. Pneumocystis carinii was investigated in BAL by means of immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies.


RESULTS
Some microorganisms were isolated in forty-seven bronchoscopies. Thirteen episodes resulted negative. The most frequent etiologic agent was Pneumocystis carinii (seventeen cases). The etiology of fifteen episodes was polymicrobial. The intersticial radiological pattern was the predominant one. It was observed in twenty-seven cases. With regard to immunity, 91% of the patients showed CD4 < 200.


CONCLUSIONS
In our research work, the samples that have been obtained by means of FB showed a high percentage of diagnoses; that is the reason why we regard this technique as very useful for the diagnosis of pneumonia in patients with AIDS. Due to the large number of bacterian pneumonia, we consider necessary not only the use of BAL, but also that of TPC in these processes.
Cruz Villuendas
M
M
Servicios de Microbiología, Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza.
Remacha
M A
MA
Echávarri
B
B
Lezcano
M A
MA
Omeñaca
M
M
Arazo
P
P
Bello
S
S
D001999:Bronchoscopy; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
Neumonías diagnosticadas por broncoscopia en pacientes HIV-positivos.