Surveillance culture utility and safety using low-volume blind bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia

Background and objectives:   Surveillance cultures may improve the prediction of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and empirical antibiotic selection. This study examined the utility and patient safety of blind, non-protected, low-volume mini-bronchial lavage (BM-BAL) surveillance cultures in predicting VAP.
Methodology:   A prospective, cohort study was performed in a large general intensive care unit. BM-BALs were collected within 12 h of admission then thrice weekly. Each BM-BAL was screened by Gram staining for intracellular organisms and then quantitatively cultured. VAP was diagnosed using the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score. The concordance for isolates from the BM-BAL was assessed against concurrently collected endotracheal aspirates (EA).
Results:   Four hundred and twelve patients requiring a minimum of 48 h of mechanical ventilation were enrolled. Fifty patients developed 58 episodes of VAP. Concordant pathogens were found in 85% of BM-BAL specimens collected 2 days prior to VAP onset. Their antibiograms were stable over the preceding 4 days. The isolation of pathogens with colony counts ≥10⁴ cfu/mL from BM-BAL performed 2 days prior to the clinical onset of VAP had a sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 50%, positive predictive value of 31% and a negative predictive value of 93% for predicting the development of VAP. BM-BAL WCC, quantification of bacterial growth and the percentage of intracellular organisms were not helpful in predicting VAP diagnosis.
Conclusions:   BM-BAL surveillance cultures are well tolerated and useful in predicting the pathogens and their antibiograms causing VAP. Diagnostic specimen collection at the time of VAP onset is still required as surveillance cultures may be negative even one day prior to VAP onset.     

Diagnosis of pulmonary aspiration: a mouse model using a starch granule test in bronchoalveolar lavage

Background and objective:   Pulmonary aspiration (PA) is a significant respiratory disease in children. However, the diagnosis of aspiration is often difficult owing to the poor efficacy of currently available diagnostic tests. The aim of this study was to assess in a mouse model the specificity of starch granule detection in BAL as a new method for detecting PA in children.
Methods:   Twenty BALB/c mice were divided into the following groups according to the solution instilled into the airways: corn flour milk 7.5%—a source of starch (CM), Pseudomonas aeruginosa , normal saline and a control group. BAL was performed 2 days after instillation. Detection of starch granules and lipid-laden macrophages were compared in BAL.
Results:   Starch granules were detected in BAL fluids from all mice in the CM group (food aspiration model), whereas no starch granules were detected in the other three groups, demonstrating a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. On the other hand, lipid-laden macrophages were found in all mice from all the groups studied.
Conclusions:   The detection of starch granules in BAL is a simple and highly specific method for the diagnosis of PA in an experimental model. Clinical studies using the starch granule detection method in BAL should be tested in at risk patients to evaluate the utility of this method for investigating PA.     

经纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗治疗老年吸入性肺炎的临床观察

目的观察经纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗治疗老年吸入性肺炎的临床疗效。方法将80例老年吸入性肺炎患者随机分成观察组和对照组各40例,观察组应用纤维支气管镜局部肺泡灌洗联合内科治疗,对照组给予内科常规治疗,观察比较两组治疗前后症状变化情况。结果两组治愈率及总有效率比较,差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。观察组症状改善时间程较对照组明显缩短（P〈0.05）。结论经纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗联合内科常规治疗老年吸入性肺炎,能显著提高疗效,缩短疗程。     

支气管肺泡灌洗治疗老年重症肺炎合并呼吸衰竭的临床疗效

目的观察支气管肺泡灌洗术辅助治疗老年重症肺炎合并呼吸衰竭的临床疗效。方法将入选的90例患者随机分为观察组(46例)与对照组(44例),观察组予常规治疗,对照组在此基础上加用支气管肺泡灌洗术3～5次,对比两组患者治疗后动脉血气分析指标及临床疗效。结果①治疗72 h后,两组患者ApacheⅡ评分、SaO2、PaO2、PaCO2等均明显改善,观察组改善情况优于对照组(P<0.05);②治疗10d后,观察组显效率(45.7%)与总体有效率(84.8%)均高于对照组(22.7%、65.9%)(P<0.05)。结论支气管肺泡灌洗治疗老年重症肺炎合并呼衰能明显改善临床疗效,降低有创通气比例与病死率。     

纤支镜下肺泡灌洗治疗难治性肺炎的疗效探析

目的对难治性肺炎及肺炎吸收缓慢患者应用纤支镜联合支气管肺泡灌洗治疗的效果及其不良反应情况进行分析探讨。方法选择2012年2月~2015年2月期间在我院接受治疗的128例难治性肺炎及肺炎缓慢吸收患者,使用随机数字表法将其分成观察组64例和对照组64例。对照组患者应用常规疗法予以治疗,观察组患者在其基础之上加用纤支镜联合支气管肺泡灌洗予以治疗。观察、比较两组患者的临床治疗效果、不良反应情况、血气分析指标以及CRP、IL-6的变化情况。结果经过相应的治疗之后,观察组患者治疗的总有效率为90.6%,明显高于对照组的70.3%(P0.05);在血气分析指标以及CRP、IL-6水平方面,两组患者都较治疗前显著改善(P0.05),并且观察组患者改善更加明显(P0.05);两组患者都没有出现严重的不良反应。结论难治性肺炎及肺炎吸收缓慢患者应用纤支镜联合支气管肺泡灌洗治疗,疗效显著,安全性高,具有肯定的临床应用价值。     

支气管肺泡灌洗对难治性肺炎的疗效

目的探讨纤维支气管镜和支气管肺泡灌洗对难治性肺炎的疗效和安全性。方法将90例难治性肺炎患者分为观察组和对照组,对照组应用常规药物治疗。观察组应用纤维支气管镜和支气管肺泡灌洗治疗。比较两组患者治疗效果及安全性。结果观察组治疗有效率为95.6%(43/45),显著高于对照组的73.3%(33/45)(P0.05)。治疗后,两组IL-6、IL-10及CPR水平均显著降低,且观察组改善更加明显(P0.05)。观察组临床症状消失时间、胸部CT明显改善时间、抗生素应用时间及住院时间均显著短于对照组,治疗费用低于对照组(P0.05)。两组均无严重并发症发生。结论纤维支气管镜和支气管肺泡灌洗治疗难治性肺炎具有良好的疗效及安全性。     

支气管肺泡灌洗术对卒中并发重症肺炎患者的作用

目的探讨支气管肺泡灌洗术(BAL)对卒中机械通气并发重症肺炎患者的治疗效果。方法前瞻性纳入2012年1月至2015年12月收治的68例接受有创机械通气的卒中并发重症肺炎患者,按照随机数字表分为研究组(34例)和对照组(34例),对照组采取治疗原发病、抗感染、常规吸痰、机械辅助排痰及对症支持等治疗,研究组在对照组基础上加用纤维支气管镜(以下简称纤支镜)行BAL治疗,比较两组患者治疗前和治疗后3 d氧合指数、气道峰压的变化、治疗前痰细菌培养阳性率和治疗后7 d痰细菌培养转阴率、抗生素使用时间、机械通气时间及平均重症监护室(ICU)住院时间等指标。结果 (1)研究组和对照组治疗前氧合指数、气道峰压比较[氧合指数:(148±31)比(151±29),气道峰压:(32±5)cm H_2O比(31±5)cm H_2O,t值分别为0.35和0.38],差异无统计学意义(均P0.05),治疗后3 d,研究组氧合指数升高较对照组更为明显[(213±22)比(186±25)],差异有统计学意义(t=4.70,P0.01),但两组间气道峰压比较[(21±4)cm H_2O比(22±5)cm H_2O],差异无统计学意义(t=0.96,P0.05);(2)研究组治疗前痰细菌培养阳性率和治疗后7 d痰细菌培养转阴率明显高于对照组[痰细菌培养阳性率:82.4%(28/34)比47.1%(16/34),治疗7 d后痰细菌培养转阴率89.3%(25/28)比56.2%(9/16),差异均有统计学意义(χ2值分别为9.27和5.01,均P0.05);(3)研究组抗生素使用时间、机械通气时间及平均ICU住院时间与对照组相比,均明显降低[抗生素使用时间:(9±3)d比(13±3)d、机械通气时间:(13±3)d比(17±3)d、平均ICU住院时间:(17±6)d比(22±6)d],差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为4.74、5.17、4.21,均P0.01)。结论对机械通气的卒中并发重症肺炎患者行BAL治疗,能提高氧合指数和痰标本转阴检出率、减少使用抗生素、机械通气及平均ICU住院时间。     

Differential cell count and lymphocyte subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage during pneumonia with and without peripheral neutropenia

One hundred immunocompromised HIV negative patients with microbiologically positive pneumonia underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) studies. Thirty cases showed peripheral neutropenia (<1000 neutrophils/L), 70 did not. The total cell number in BAL, the differential cell counts, and the lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD8, CD19, CD57) were measured. Patients with pneumonia and normal or elevated peripheral neutrophils had a significantly increased total number of cells in BAL compared to patients with peripheral neutropenia (3,2 ± 2 vs 1,3 ± 0,6 × 105 cells/ml lavage fluid, p < 0.01). Ninety percent of the BAL differential cell counts obtained in patients exceeding 1000 neutrophils/L showed a lymphocytic and/or neutrophilic alveolitis, whereas only 54% of patients with peripheral neutropenia displayed abnormal counts (p < 0.01). Yet the typical pattern of neutrophilic alveolitis was found more often for peripheral neutrophil counts over 1000/L with high significance (p < 0.0001). Abnormal BAL cell patterns for neutropenic patients uniformly showed a lymphocytic alveolitis, only 10% additionally conformed with the pattern of neutrophilic alveolitis. Patients with pneumonia with and without peripheral neutropenia had similar findings in BAL lymphocyte subsets and exhibited a reduced CD4/CD8 ratio compared to controls (p < 0.05). The high susceptibility of severe neutropenic patients to pulmonary, especially fungal infections may be explained by the local lack of neutrophils.

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Aspiration pneumonia: dental and oral risk factors in an older veteran population

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the importance of medical and dental factors in aspiration pneumonia in an older veteran population. DESIGN: Prospective enrollment of subjects with retrospective analysis of data. SETTING: Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic, inpatient ward, and nursing home. PARTICIPANTS: 358 veterans age 55 and older; 50 subjects with aspiration pneumonia. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic and medical data; functional status; health-related behaviors; dental care utilization; personal oral hygiene; comprehensive dental examination; salivary assays including IgA antibodies; and cultures of saliva, throat, and dental plaques. RESULTS: Two logistic regression models produced estimates of significant risk factors. One model using dentate patients included: requiring help with feeding (odds ratio (OR) = 13.9), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR = 4.7), diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.5), number of decayed teeth (OR = 1.2), number of functional dental units (OR = 1.2), presence of important organisms for decay, Streptococcus sobrinus in saliva (OR = 6.2), and periodontal disease, Porphyromonous gingivalis in dental plaque (OR = 4.2), and Staphylococcus aureus presence in saliva (OR = 7.4). The second model, containing both dentate and edentulous patients included: requiring help with feeding (OR = 4.7), COPD (OR = 2.5), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.7), and presence of S. aureus in saliva (OR = 8.3). CONCLUSION: This study supports the significance of oral and dental factors while controlling for established medical risk factors in aspiration pneumonia incidence.     

Bronchoalveolar lavage findings in severe community-acquired pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1

BACKGROUND: No specific data are available in the literature on the bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) findings of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia. We report on the cytological and immunophenotypical BAL data of three immunocompetent patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia due to L. pneumophila serogroup 1. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. The microbiologial diagnosis was obtained by BAL culture or/and urinary antigen assay. RESULTS: All patients presented with high-grade fever, bilateral chest infiltrates and severe respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support. The cytological BAL pattern at presentation showed in all patients the association of a marked neutrophilia with a variable but remarkable percentage of lymphoblasts. Increased levels of activated T-Lymphocytes (both HLA-DR + and CD25 + cells) and, in 2 out of 3 patients, of T-cells bearing the gamma/delta T-cell receptor were the main immunophenotypical findings on flow cytometric analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the association of lymphoblasts with a marked neutrophilia in BAL fluid of patients with a clinical-radiological setting compatible with acute pneumonia should suggest L. pneumophila as a possible etiologic agent.     

老年吸入性肺炎的临床特点和防治对策

目的 探讨老年吸入性肺炎的临床特点以及防治对策.方法 收集2004年3月～ 2009年5月老年吸入性肺炎住院患者56例,分析临床和病原学的特点.结果 老年吸入性肺炎患者56例,死亡15例,好转41例.结论防治老年吸入性肺炎应根据病原学进行有效抗菌治疗.     

Bowel preparation for the total colonoscopy by 2,000 ml of balanced lavage solution (Golytely) and sennoside.

One of disadvantages of the Golytely preparation is that examinees have to drink as much as 4,000 ml of Golytely. To overcome this disadvantage, we designed a modified preparation regimen in which examinees have to drink only 2,000 ml of Golytely by taking sennoside orally. Bowel preparation was carried out in 297 examinees by this modified method. Examinees ate their usual diet and took 36 mg of sennoside orally on the night before the examination. On the day of the examination, the examinees drank a total of 2,000 ml of Golytely. No severe complications were noted and 97% of the examinees were able to drink the dose of 2,000 ml. Subjects who had also experienced bowel preparation by the modified method of Brown were asked to compare the two regimens, and only 1% preferred Brown's method while 73% preferred bowel preparation by our Golytely method. The result of bowel preparation by this method was excellent or good in 90 to 97% of the subjects at all sites in the colon and rectum. We conclude that bowel preparation for total colonoscopy using 2,000 ml of Golytely and sennoside is superior because it is highly acceptable to the examinees and provides excellent gut irrigation.     

儿童支原体肺炎肺泡灌洗液检测与临床关系探讨

目的 探讨儿童支原体肺炎（MPP）支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中MP-DNA基因阳性患儿的临床特征.方法 对行纤维支气管镜检查和支气管肺泡灌洗的94例MPP患儿,采用荧光实时定量PCR（FQ-PCR）检测BALF中MP-DNA基因,根据检测结果分为实验组61例（肺泡灌洗液MP-DNA阳性）与对照组33例（肺泡灌洗液MP-DNA阴性）,对两组的临床特点进行比较.结果 实验组学龄儿显著多于对照组（P〈0.05）;高热、CRP升高、胸部X线和/或CT检查肺不张及胸腔积液明显高于对照组（P〈0.05）;支气管镜下表现及BALF细胞学分类两组差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）.结论 以学龄儿、高热、CRP升高、肺不张、胸腔积液为临床特点的MPP,BALF中 MP-DNA基因阳性多见,可能与患儿体内MP不易清除和存在较强的免疫反应有关,临床需适当延长大环内酯类抗生素治疗疗程及注重免疫治疗.     

The effect of therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage in combination with glucocorticoids on children with acute exogenous lipoid pneumonia

Background

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) is a rare disease caused by the inhalation of oily materials in the alveoli with the pathological characterization by the presence of laden-lipid macrophages in the respiratory specimens. At present, the treatment norm for ELP has not well defined, and so the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of bronchoalveolar lavage in combination with glucocorticoids on children with ELP.

Methods and Materials

We retrospectively reviewed 17 children with a confirmed history of exogenous oily materials aspiration, admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from June 2012 to December 2021. Clinical features, blood investigations, tomographic evaluations, therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage and glucocorticoids use were carried out at the beginning of therapy and throughout a follow-up period.

Results

The included children are the median age of 2 years. Fever, dypnea and tachypnea were the most common symptoms. The most common radiological features were airspace consolidations (15, 93.75%). Chest CT scans showed areas of consolidation with air bronchogram (15, 93.75%), poorly defined centrilobular nodules (13, 81.25%), areas of ground-glass attenuation (11, 68.75%) and ‘crazy-paving’ pattern (6, 37.5%) in the both lower, right middle lung lobes. Neutrophil percentage of peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid exhibited a significantly higher than the normal range. After treatment with multiple bronchoalveolar lavages and local administration of budesonide during the hospital stay, taken by oral prednisolone (1 ~ 2 mg/kg) after discharge, all of children became asymptomatic and presented normal radiological imagings in the follow-up period.

Conclusion

The most frequently findings in the CT scan of ELP were consolidations and ground-glass attenuation in the both lower and right middle lung lobes. Multiple bronchoalveolar lavages in combination with oral prednisolone for children who had a confirmed history of exogenous oily substances ingestion were an efficient and safe for the clearance of oily materials from the lung and the prevention of fibrosis. This strategy contributed to reducing the damage of ELP in children patients.     

Thrombin contributes to bronchoalveolar lavage fluid mitogenicity in lung disease of the premature infant

Chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD) is a common consequence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and is characterized by pulmonary fibrosis. Increased thrombin activity in the alveolar compartment is associated with pulmonary fibrosis in adults and animals, and contributes to bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid mitogenicity for fibroblasts. We hypothesized that BAL fluid from infants who develop CLD contains increased mitogenic activity for lung fibroblasts compared to BAL fluid from resolving RDS, and that increased thrombin levels contribute to this activity. Sequential BAL (postnatal days 2-14) was obtained from 37 premature infants who were ventilated for RDS. Twenty-six infants developed CLD, whereas 11 resolved. BAL fluid mitogenic activity was determined in a proliferation assay, using human fetal lung fibroblasts. The contribution of thrombin to mitogenic activity was determined using the thrombin inhibitor PPACK. Furthermore, thrombin levels in BAL fluid were measured using a specific substrate to detect thrombin activity and by measuring thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TATIII). BAL fluid mitogenic activity was comparable between CLD and RDS (CLD, 33% proliferation on day 2 to 41% on day 14; RDS, 21% on day 2 to 54% on day 7). Thrombin inactivation by PPACK completely inhibited mitogenic activity in BAL samples obtained on days 2 and 4 (CLD, P < 0.001 on days 2 and 4; RDS, P < 0.05 on day 4). From day 7 onwards, inhibition of thrombin only partly reduced (P < 0.05) CLD BAL fluid mitogenic activity, indicating that other mitogenic factors contribute as well. Surprisingly, thrombin activity and TATIII were decreased in BAL fluid from CLD compared with RDS patients on days 2 and 4. In conclusion, our study shows that BAL fluid from infants with and without CLD development is equally mitogenic for lung fibroblasts, and that thrombin is a major mitogen in these samples. This suggests that fibroproliferation may occur early in the lungs from infants with both CLD and RDS, and that thrombin contributes to this.     

纤维支气管镜联合肺泡灌洗术治疗呼吸机相关性肺炎患者的临床疗效分析

目的 探讨采用纤维支气管镜联合肺泡灌洗术治疗呼吸机相关性肺炎患者的临床疗效。方法 选择我院2013年1月至2014年4月呼吸科诊断为呼吸机相关性肺炎的160例患者,随机分成对照组80例和治疗组80例。对照组采用常规的控制肺部感染的治疗措施,治疗组除了常规的控制肺部感染的治疗措施,还采用纤维支气管镜联合肺泡灌洗术进行治疗。分别记录两组患者的pH、PaO2、PaCO2、SpO2、MAP（mmHg）、H（次/min）、气道阻力（cmHg）、抗生素应用时间;机械通气时间、脱机成功率;患者的显效,有效,无效的情况。结果 治疗组的pH、PaO2、PaCO2、SpO2、MAP（mmHg）、H（次/min）、气道阻力（cmHg）、抗生素应用时间与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义,P〈0.05;两组患者的机械通气时间、脱机成功率的治疗后情况对比,差异有统计学意义,P〈0.05;χ^2=3.602,P〈0.05,差异有统计学意义。两组患者的治疗有效率情况对比,对照组：显效18例（22.5%）,有效34例（42.5%）,无效28例（35.0%）,总有效率52例（65.0%）;治疗组：显效30例（37.5%）,有效46例（57.5%）,无效4例（5.0%）,总有效率76例（95.0%）,治疗组患者的总有效率高于对照组的总有效率。结论 纤维支气管镜联合肺泡灌洗术是治疗呼吸机相关性肺炎患者的安全有效的方法,可改善患者的通气质量,提高血氧饱和度,提高患者治疗的有效率,值得临床推广。