Pathogenic Bacterium Culture of Bronchoalveolar Lavage and Endotracheal Suction Fluids in Delayed Ventilator-associated Pneumonia

Objective To comparatively evaluate the significances of routine qualitative cultures of endotracheal suction fluids(ESF) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids(BALF) to antibiotic therapy for delayed ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP).Methods The culture of ESF was performed twice weekly for the patients mechanically ventilated.A diagnosis of VAP was made according to the results of BALF.The result of the last culture of ESF performed just before the suspicion of VAP was record,and compared with the results of BALF to see whether they were consistent.Results VAP was diagnosed(by BALF culture) in 33 of the 42 patients who were suspected.Among the 33 patients with positive culture of BALF for VAP,the last culture of ESF of 28(84.8%) cases had the same microorganisms and the same antibiotic sensitivity.There was no significant difference in detectable rate of VAP between the two methods(χ2﹦0.08,P0.01).Conclusion The routine qualitative culture of ESF performed twice weekly is of good guidance for an early treatment of delayed VAP.