title: The simple and the simpler in pneumonia diagnosis.
abstract: In the absence of a perfect 'gold standard' for diagnosing pneumonia, comparing diagnostic performance between techniques remains controversial. El Solh and coworkers present a study evaluating use of quantitative endotracheal aspirate culture to enhance diagnostic accuracy in pneumonia patients admitted from nursing homes. We discuss the use of quantitative cultures and thresholds to differentiate between colonization and infection in pneumonia patients; we also consider the inaccuracy of diagnostic studies, which compromises the reproducibility of these data in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Department, Joan XXIII University Hospital, University Rovira & Virgili, Institut Pere Virgili, CIBERes Enfermedades Respiratorias, Carrer Mallafre Guasch, 4 - 43007, Tarragona, Spain. tlisboa@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Thiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lisboa
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rello
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D014132:Trachea / Q000382:microbiology*