Effect of enriched thioglycolate on direct examination of respiratory specimens and guiding initial empirical therapy in intubated patients with pneumonia: a prospective, randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of enriched thioglycolate as a transport medium of protected specimen brush samples, in particular its value in direct examination of respiratory specimens and in guiding initial antibiotic prescription.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, pilot study.


METHODS
Medical-surgical teaching intensive care unit.


METHODS
Thirty adults with suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia.


METHODS
Bronchoscopy was performed by using standard techniques, and two consecutive protected specimen brush samples were taken. Transport medium consisted of 1 mL of sterile saline or thioglycolate. Gram stains were performed in all samples. Randomization was used to select which transport medium was used first. Each patient served as his or her own control. The laboratory was blind to the choice.


RESULTS
Causative agents were cultured in 16 episodes, and no significant differences were observed when the transport media were compared. Anaerobes were identified in only one episode. Direct staining in thioglycolate samples anticipated the presumptive diagnosis (in presence of false-negative cultures) in three additional patients in whom prior antibiotic therapy was prescribed; this was also the case in one patient with saline solution. The etiology was anticipated by direct Gram staining and permitted a more targeted initial empirical treatment in 75% of samples transported in thioglycolate, compared with only 37.5% of samples transported in saline solution (p <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
When protected specimen brush samples are obtained, thioglycolate may contribute to early identification of the pathogen and may guide the initial empirical therapy.
Rello
Jordi
J
Intensive Care Department, Hospital de Sabadell, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain.
Mariscal
Dolors
D
Gallego
Miguel
M
Valles
Jordi
J
D000328:Adult; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013864:Thioglycolates
D013864:Thioglycolates