title: Evaluation of early mini-bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of health care-associated pneumonia: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) has been proposed as a new category of respiratory infection to identify patients at risk of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. The American Thoracic Society's recommendation for HCAP treatment is to use broad-spectrum and multiple antibiotics. However, this strategy may be economically expensive and promote antimicrobial resistance when a multisensitive pathogen is not identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively included all patients presenting with HCAP in the emergency department. Blood cultures and fiberoptic bronchoscope-guided distal protected small volume bronchoalveolar lavage (FODP mini-BAL) were performed in each patient. Empirical antibiotic therapy was adapted when microbiological findings were available. The primary objective was to assess whether FODP mini-BAL is more efficient than blood cultures in identifying pathogens with the ratio of identification between both techniques as principal criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 54 patients with HCAP. Pathogens were identified in 46.3% of cases using mini-BAL and in 11.1% of cases using blood cultures (P <0.01). When the patient did not receive antibiotic therapy before the procedure, pathogens were identified in 72.6% of cases using mini-BAL and in 9.5% of cases using blood cultures (P <0.01). We noted multidrug-resistant pathogens in 16% of cases. All bronchoscopic procedures could be performed in patients without complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FODP mini-BAL was more efficient than blood cultures for identifying pathogens in patients presenting with HCAP. When bacteriological identification was obtained, antibiotic therapy was adapted in 100% of cases.See related letter by Sircar et al.,http://ccforum.com/content/17/2/428.
authors: Guillaume
authors: G
authors: Lacroix
authors: Bertrand
authors: B
authors: Prunet
authors: Julien
authors: J
authors: Bordes
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Cabon-Asencio
authors: Yves
authors: Y
authors: Asencio
authors: Tiphaine
authors: T
authors: Gaillard
authors: Sandrine
authors: S
authors: Pons
authors: Erwan
authors: E
authors: D'aranda
authors: Delphine
authors: D
authors: Kerebel
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Meaudre
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Goutorbe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003428:Cross Infection; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies
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