title: Diagnostic value of direct examination of protected specimen brush samples in nosocomial pneumonia.
abstract: The value of direct examination of Giemsa and Gram stains of cytospin preparations of protected specimen brush samples was compared to that of quantitative culture. Sixty-one samples from patients suspected to have nosocomial pneumonia were analysed. Twenty-five samples were positive by quantitative culture, 21 of which contained microorganisms seen by direct examination. The presence of leucocytes was not specific for a positive culture, but in their absence, a positive culture was unlikely. The presence of intracellular organisms always correlated with a positive culture, but was not very sensitive.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Clinical Microbiology, Middelheim General Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nagler
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Galdermans
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Slabbynck
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Weise
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coolen
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000379:methods; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity