[Etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia in adults: usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage]

Abstract

Quantitative evaluation of bacteria in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 15 patients with pneumonia was compared to that in 29 healthy controls. Aerobic and anaerobic cultures were used as well as cultures and staining for fungi and mycobacteria. A total of 1000 colony forming units per ml was considered a cutoff mark between colonization and infection. A positive result was obtained in 13 of 15 patients with pneumonia, allowing the identification of the causing agent. Counts below the indicated level were observed in 23 of 29 controls. There was no morbidity associated to the procedure. Thus, an 85% sensitivity and 87% specificity for bronchoalveolar lavage in the etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia may be estimated from this study.