PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Glenn Meden
AU  - Gerri S. Hall
AU  - Muzaffar Ahmad
TI  - Retrieval of microbiological specimens through the fiberoptic bronchoscope
DP  - 1985 Dec 21
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - 495--502
VI  - 52
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/52/4/495.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/52/4/495.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med1985 Dec 21; 52
AB  - Lower respiratory tract infections in the immunocompromised host and hospitalized patient are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The methods of determining the causative agent range from sputum Gram staining to open lung biopsy. Because of the inadequacy of the former and the invasiveness of the latter, the fiberoptic bronchoscope is being used more frequently as a diagnostic tool. This paper reviews its utility in diagnosing infectious pneumonias and concentrates on the use of the microbiology specimen brush and bronchoalveolar lavage.