title: [Current concepts for the microbiological detection of airway pathogens].
abstract: The frequency and range of bacterial pathogens in respiratory tract infections depends on a variety of variables. The aetiology is influenced by the type of respiratory tract infection (acute bronchitis, acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia, nosocomial pneumonia), geographic and seasonal factors, and by the diagnostic methods implemented to identify the pathogens. Furthermore, there exists a considerable uncertainty concerning the clinical relevance of positive bacteriological findings in respiratory secretions because they are retrieved from non-sterile or contaminated environments. To differentiate infection from contamination, both microbiological and clinical findings have to be assessed, which might be difficult in the setting of systemic or local immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik 1/Pneumologie des Universitätsklinikums Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden. gert.hoeffken@uniklinikumdresden.de
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Höffken
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolditz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halank
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lück
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koschel
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000639:trends*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*