title: Impact of BAL on the diagnosis and treatment of nosocomial pneumonia in ICU patients.
abstract: Nosocomial pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia are currently the second leading cause of nosocomial infections and account for approximately 10-15% of all hospital-acquired infections. Crude mortality rates range from 24% to 76% depending on the population and clinical setting studied. During the last ten years, several diagnostic methods have been developed to microbiologically confirm the clinical diagnosis, especially in mechanically ventilated patients. This article seeks to clarify the issues surrounding the use of invasive fiberoptic bronchoscopic techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of nosocomial pneumonia.
authors: Servei de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Parc Tauli, Sabadell, Spain.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ferrer
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ioanas
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Agustí
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Torres
mesh_terms: D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000009:adverse effects