Correlation of intracellular organisms with quantitative endotracheal aspirate.
Journal Article
BACKGROUND: The presence of intracellular organisms (ICOs) in polymorphonuclear cells obtained from respiratory secretions is a possible method for rapid diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia. We correlated ICOs with quantitative endotracheal aspirate (QA) in intubated patients. METHODS: Consecutive intubated patients in the surgical intensive care unit had respiratory samples obtained every 2 days until extubation. Two thresholds for ICOs and quantitative culture were examined. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated using QA as reference. RESULTS: One hundred one samples were obtained from 35 patients. Colony counts >or= 100,000 were found in 34 samples; 60 samples had colony counts >or= 10,000. Antibiotic use did not affect the sensitivity or specificity of ICOs. Sensitivity of ICOs was 39% to 85%, and specificity was 82% to 97%. Positive predictive value was 70% to 96%, and negative predictive value was 50% to 91%. CONCLUSION: ICOs provide a quick method for establishing the presence of a significant bacterial load in the respiratory tract. Accuracy of ICOs in predicting a positive QA is not affected by concurrent antibiotics.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Brasel, KJ; Allen, B; Edmiston, C; Weigelt, JA
Published Date
- January 2003
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 54 / 1
Start / End Page
- 141 - 144
PubMed ID
- 12544909
Pubmed Central ID
- 12544909
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0022-5282
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1097/00005373-200301000-00017
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States