Early Bronchoalveolar Lavage Research Articles

Timing of bronchoscopy and application of scoring tools in children with severe pneumonia

BackgroundThere is still a lack of effective scoring criteria for assessing the severity of pulmonary infection associated with changes in the endobronchial lining of the bronchus in children. This study aimed to ascertain the timing and value of endoscopic scoring of fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in children with severe pneumonia.MethodThe clinical data of 229 children with severe pneumonia treated with BAL in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between November 2018 and December 2021 were collected. According to the severity of the disease, patients were divided into an invasive ventilation group and a non-invasive ventilation group, as well as an early BAL group (receiving BAL within 1 day of admission) and a late BAL group (receiving BAL 2 days after admission). A Student’s t-test, Chi-square test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and survival curve were used to analyse the bronchitis score, aetiology of BAL fluid and survival data.ResultsThe scores of endoscopic mucosal oedema, erythema and pallor and the total score in the invasive ventilation group were higher than those in the non-invasive ventilation group (P < 0.05), and they were consistent with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. The secretion colour score was lower in the early BAL group than in the late BAL group (P < 0.05). On the bronchitis scores, which were evaluated using a ROC curve, the difference in the mucosal erythema, pallor, oedema and total score of the invasive and non-invasive groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05), which was consistent with the area under the ROC of the SOFA scores. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Assessment II and SOFA scores after FOB were lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05). In terms of ICU hospitalisation days and total hospitalisation days, the time of the early FOB patients was shorter than that of the late FOB patients (P < 0.05). A total of 22 patients (9.61%) died. The Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank test showed that the survival rate of the non-invasive ventilation group was higher than that of the invasive ventilation group (P < 0.05).ConclusionThis study found that FOB combined with BAL is an important method for the diagnosis and treatment of severe pneumonia. Early BAL can reduce hospitalisation and ICU time; however, it cannot improve the survival rate. The endoscopic score has a certain role to play in assessing the severity of pulmonary inflammation, but studies with a large sample are still needed to confirm this.

Early pneumonia diagnosis decreases ventilator-associated pneumonia rates in trauma population.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a source of morbidity and mortality for trauma patients. Aspiration events are also common because of traumatic brain injury, altered mental status, or facial trauma. In patients requiring mechanical ventilation, early pneumonias (EPs) may be erroneously classified as ventilator associated. A prospective early bronchoscopy protocol was implemented from January 2020 to January 2022. Trauma patients intubated before arrival or within 48 hours of admission underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) within 24 hours of intubation. Patients with more than 100,000 colony-forming units on BAL were considered to have EP. A total of 117 patients underwent early BAL. Ninety-three (79.5%) had some growth on BAL with 36 (30.8%) meeting criteria for EP. For the total study population, 29 patients (24.8%) were diagnosed with VAP later in their hospital course, 12 of which had previously been diagnosed with EP. Of EP patients (n = 36), 21 (58.3%) were treated with antibiotics based on clinical signs of infection. Of EP patients who had a later pneumonia diagnosed by BAL (n = 12), seven (58.3%) grew the same organism from their initial BAL. When these patients were excluded from VAP calculation, the rate was reduced by 27.6%. Patients with EP had a higher rate of smoking history (41.7% vs. 19.8%, p < 0.001) compared with patients without EP. There was no difference in median hospital length of stay, intensive care unit length of stay, ventilator days, or mortality between the two cohorts. Early pneumonia is common in trauma patients intubated within the first 48 hours of admission and screening with early BAL identifies patients with aspiration or pretraumatic indicators of pneumonia. Accounting for these patients with early BAL significantly reduces reported VAP rates. Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Clinical Utility of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Pediatric Oncology Patients.

Lower airway sampling is important in the assessment of lower respiratory tract infection in children with cancer or posthematopoietic stem cell transplant and can be done via bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Clinicians can struggle with balancing the benefits of BAL against the risks. This study aimed to define the diagnostic and clinical utility of BAL in this population. A single-center retrospective review of BAL performed in children with cancer or posthematopoietic stem cell transplant. Data extracted included demographics, BAL method and results and antimicrobial treatment. Variables significantly associated with diagnostic yield, diagnostic impact (confirmation or exclusion of infection), and clinical impact (any change in antimicrobial or nonantimicrobial therapy) were assessed in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Seventy-three BAL episodes were included. In 26 (35.6%) episodes, a pathogen was identified on BAL. Forty-nine (67%) BAL episodes had a diagnostic impact and 15 (21%) had a clinical impact. Late BAL (&gt;72 hours) compared with early BAL (odds ratio 3.27; 95% CI: 1.03-10.86), and flexible bronchoscopy compared with nonbronchoscopic lavage (odds ratio 6.10; 95% CI: 1.90-24.0), were more likely to have a diagnostic impact on multivariate analysis. No associations were found for clinical impact. One-third of BAL episodes identified a pathogen, two-thirds had a diagnostic impact, and almost a quarter of episodes impacted antimicrobial prescribing. The method and timing of BAL may be important, with flexible bronchoscopy 6-fold more likely and late BAL 3-fold more likely to have a diagnostic impact.

Early bronchoalveolar lavage for intubated trauma patients with TBI or chest trauma

PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of an early bronchoalveolar lavage (E-BAL) protocol. BAL was performed within 48 h for intubated patients with traumatic brain injury or chest trauma. We hypothesized that E-BAL would decrease antibiotic use and improve outcomes compared to late BAL (L-BAL) triggered by clinical signs of pneumonia. MethodsRetrospective cohort analysis of 132 patients with quantitative BAL and ≥1 risk factor: head Abbreviated Injury Score ≥2, ≥3 rib fractures, or radiographic signs of aspiration or pulmonary contusion. E-BAL (n=71) was compared to L-BAL (n=61). Pneumonia was defined as ≥104 organisms on BAL or Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score >6. ResultsThere were no significant differences in age, injury severity, initial Pao2:Fio2, or smoking status between E-BAL and L-BAL groups. 52% and 61% of the E-BAL and L-BAL cultures were positive, respectively. E-BAL patients had fewer antibiotic days (7.3 vs 9.2, P=.034), ventilator days (11 vs 15, P=.002), tracheostomies (49% vs 75%, P=.002), and shorter intensive care unit and hospital length of stay (13 vs 17 days (P=.007), 18 vs 22 days (P=.041)). ConclusionsMore than half of all E-BAL patients had pneumonia present early after admission. E-BAL was associated with fewer days on antibiotics and better outcomes than L-BAL.

Role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy and BAL in assessment of the patients with non-responding pneumonia

BackgroundNon-responding pneumonia is usually a topic of interest for pulmonologists. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) may be an important tool in assessment of non-responding pneumonia. There is paucity of recent studies in this area. AimThis study aimed to assess the impact of early bronchoscopy and BAL in etiological diagnosis of the patients with non-responding pneumonia with special emphasis on efficacy of FOB and BAL in diagnosis. Settings and designA prospective, observational study was conducted in chest and medical microbiology and immunology departments, Zagazig University Hospitals. Patients and methodsThere were total 135 patients included in our study after fulfilling the criteria of non-responding pneumonia by clinical and laboratory parameters, patients were subjected to FOB and BALF microbiological, cytological, histopathological investigations. ResultsThe patients were 90 males and 45 females with a mean age of 47.6±12.2years. Unilateral lung involvement was seen in 108 (80%) patients, whereas bilateral involvement in 27 (20%) patients. Right upper lobe was the most commonly involved site (25.9%). In this study, bacterial pneumonia 83.71% was found to be the commonest etiology of non-resolving pneumonia, followed by bronchogenic carcinoma 13.3% and tuberculosis 2.96%. FOB was done for all patients. BAL fluid results were 88 positive, gram stain samples (65.1%), 4 BAL ZN stain and mycobacterial culture positive cases (2.96%), pyogenic organisms were isolated in 113 patients 83.71% by BAL fluid culture. Bronchoscopic biopsies were also performed in 18 cases. BAL fluid cytology was positive in 6 cases (33.3%), transbronchial forceps biopsy positive results were found in 10 cases (55.55%) and bronchial brushing showed positive results in 3 cases (16.66%). ConclusionsNRP is common and represents a difficult clinical problem as the cause may vary from a benign delay in recovery to life-threatening progressive pneumonia. A systematic approach to investigation and management is recommended with consideration of both infectious and non-infectious causes.

Early Bronchoalveolar Lavage among Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and Predicted Macro-Aspiration

<b>Problems Considered</b> The severity of brain injury and the outcome of therapy have a direct correlation to the presence of aspiration pneumonitis and aspiration pneumonia. Patients often develop macro-aspiration immediately following trauma. This study proposes to evaluate the outcome of check bronchoscopy after severe head injury and develop a scoring system to determine the most likely candidate who would benefit from the procedure. <b>Method</b> Total 30 patients were prospectively observed after check bronchoscopy for outcome with regard to pneumonia and survival. <b>Results</b> The procedure could be safely performed in all the 30 patients and the findings were suggestive of significant particulate aspirate. The Predictor of Macro-Aspiration at Trauma site [PMAT] was an effective tool to identify the potential candidates. <b>Conclusion</b> Check bronchoscopy and lavage may be helpful in decreasing the burden of infection and thereby improve outcome. The PMAT score may be an effective tool to triage the patients who need bronchoscopy.

Identifying cancer subjects with acute respiratory failure at high risk for intubation and mechanical ventilation.

We sought to identify risk factors for mechanical ventilation in patients with malignancies and acute respiratory failure (ARF). We analyzed data from a previous randomized controlled trial in which nonintubated oncology and hematology subjects with ARF were randomized to early bronchoalveolar lavage or routine care in 16 ICUs in France. Consecutive patients with malignancies were admitted to the ICU for ARF in 2005 and 2006 with no intervention. During the study period, 219 patients were admitted to the ICU for ARF, and 8 patients were not included due to a nonintubation order. Data on the underlying disease, pulmonary involvement, and extrapulmonary organ dysfunctions were recorded at admission in the 211 remaining subjects. Ventilatory support included oxygen only (49 subjects), noninvasive ventilation (NIV) only (81 subjects), NIV followed by invasive mechanical ventilation (49 subjects), and first-line invasive mechanical ventilation (32 subjects). The 81 subjects who required invasive mechanical ventilation were compared with the 130 subjects who remained on oxygen or NIV. Factors associated with invasive mechanical ventilation by multivariate analysis were the oxygen flow required at ICU admission, the number of quadrants involved on chest x-ray, and hemodynamic dysfunction. Mortality rates for subjects who had NIV failure were 65.3% compared with 50% for subjects who were first-line intubated (P = .34). In cancer patients with ARF, hypoxemia, extent of pulmonary infiltration on chest x-ray, or hemodynamic dysfunction are risk factors for invasive mechanical ventilation. Mortality was not significantly different between NIV failure and first-line intubation.

Pneumonia in the surgical intensive care unit: Is every one preventable?

Pneumonia is a major complication for hospitalized patients and has come under the scrutiny of health care regulating bodies, which propose that hospital-acquired pneumonia should not be reimbursed and potentially be a "never event." We hypothesized that many of our acutely injured patients develop pneumonia at the time of their initial traumatic event despite aggressive measures to prevent pneumonia during hospitalization. This retrospective review included all mechanically ventilated patients admitted to a mixed surgical intensive care units (ICU; trauma, general surgery, and burns) who developed pneumonia from 2006 to 2008. All pneumonia diagnosed by culture were obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens with ≥ 10(4) colony forming united (CFU)/mL considered a positive result. Criteria for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) applied only to those patients ventilated mechanically for >48 hours at the time of a positive BAL culture. Aspiration organisms included Streptococcus species, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and oral flora. This was an institutional review board-approved study. There were 208 mechanically ventilated who patients underwent BAL, half of which were performed in the first 48 hours after admission for fever, infiltrate on chest radiograph, or increasing white blood cell count (early BAL group). Of these patients, 58% had positive BAL cultures (pneumonia) but did not have VAP. Only 10% of patients studied with early BAL had no growth on culture. Although the predominant organisms in the early BAL group were aspiration-type organisms, 17% had resistant pathogens, and 16% had other Gram-negative rods (GNR). This percentage was compared with the VAP group in whom 33% of patients had resistant organisms (P = .04) and 8% other GNR (P = NS). Twenty-five patients with ≤ 10(4) CFU/mL on early BAL underwent repeat BAL, and 16 (64%) were later diagnosed with VAP. Many intubated patients in the surgical ICU had evidence of early pneumonia or bacterial growth within 48 hours after arrival, suggesting early infection or colonization occurred before ICU admission. In addition, 33% with early bacterial growth on early BAL had resistant organisms or GNR on BAL culture, which suggests a patient-derived rather than environmentally acquired source.

The Dynamics and Associations of Airway Neutrophilia Post Lung Transplantation

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophilia has been repeatedly observed in lung transplant recipients with established bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Little is known of the fluctuations in BAL and airway neutrophilic inflammation post-transplant. This prospective longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the dynamic changes of lung allograft neutrophils with time, immunosuppression, infection and BOS. A total of 28, initially healthy, BOS 0, lung transplant recipients underwent 134 bronchoscopic assessments, including BAL and endobronchial biopsies (EBB) (with immunohistochemistry) over 3-year follow up. Subsequently, 21 developed BOS 0p and 16 ultimately BOS. Compared to controls, there was early and persistent BAL neutrophilia (p < 0.05), contrasting with an initially normal EBB that shows a progressive increased airway wall neutrophil infiltrate. BAL neutrophilia (but not airway wall neutrophilia) was most striking when there was concomitant bronchopulmonary infection, particularly in the patients with BOS. Univariate and multivariate analyses suggested that BAL neutrophilia was linked to markers of infection while EBB neutrophilia was linked with coexistent inflammation with macrophages and lymphocytes. (i) BAL neutrophilia is predominantly associated with infection; (ii) Airway wall neutrophilia (as monitored by EBB) increases with time post-transplant and is not associated with infection; (iii) By itself, BOS is not the major contributor to BAL and EBB neutrophilia.

Early Increased Levels of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Neonates Recovering from Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Aim: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an eminent role in airway injury and remodelling. We explored the hypothesis that pulmonary MMP levels would differ early after birth (2–4 days) between infants with resolving respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and infants developing chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD). Methods: Thirty-two prematurely born infants (gestational age ≤30 weeks) diagnosed with RDS were included. In 13 infants RDS resolved while 19 developed CLD. MMP-2 and MMP-9 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids collected on postnatal days 2, 4, 7 and 10 were analyzed by zymography and densitometry. Immunochemistry was performed on BAL cells and lung tissue to identify cellular sources of MMP-9 in RDS and CLD. Results: Median MMP-9 levels increased significantly on day 2 in BAL fluid from patients with resolving RDS (median values MMP-9 = 42.0 arbitrary units (AU)) compared to CLD patients (MMP-9 = 5.4 AU). MMP-9 and neutrophil lipocalin-associated MMP-9 (NGAL) were significantly higher on day 4 in BAL fluid from resolving RDS (MMP-9 = 65.8 AU; NGAL = 16.1 AU) compared to CLD (MMP-9 = 25.4 AU; NGAL = 2.0 AU), Levels of MMP-9 and NGAL increased subsequently on days 7 and 10 in CLD. No differences in MMP-2 levels were detected between RDS and CLD. Neutrophils, macrophages and alveolar type-II epithelial cells were identified as potential sources of MMP-9. Conclusion: Our findings indicate differences in early MMP-9 BAL fluid levels between resolving RDS and developing CLD, which may relate to the ability to raise an early and adequate response to the initial injury.

Pneumocystis Pneumonia

In Brief Major controversies persist regarding the diagnosis and management of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Of considerable significance is the fact that much of the available evidence relates to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected subjects and may not be applicable to other immunocompromised groups. Induced sputum (IS) remains an important diagnostic test with a high specificity and good patient acceptability. Immunofluorescence improves the sensitivity of IS when compared with standard cytochemical staining. Nucleic acid amplification techniques may also increase sensitivity, although they remain predominantly a research tool. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is the optimum diagnostic test, with bilobar washing including an upper lobe reaching sensitivities of 95%. BAL, rather than IS, should be performed as the initial diagnostic investigation in non–HIV-infected subjects where the Pneumocystis pathogen load is low. Transbronchial biopsy is no more sensitive than bilobar lavage and is associated with considerable morbidity. Nonbronchoscopic lavage is an underused diagnostic resource offering a cheap alternative to fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Early diagnostic evaluation with BAL rather than empirical treatment is encouraged since the chance of detecting Pneumocystis after several days of anti-Pneumocystis treatment is reduced. In addition, multiple respiratory pathogens are common in patients with low CD4 counts. This strategy of early BAL is particularly important in non–HIV-infected immunocompromised patients where there is greater uncertainty regarding the clinical diagnosis of PCP. Pneumocystis pneumonia remains a serious infection in both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected and noninfected immunocompromised populations. This review explores controversies in both the diagnosis and management of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP); notably the advantages and disadvantages of induced sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage for diagnosis, the optimum methods for identifying Pneumocystis in specimens, and the timing of the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy following HIV-PCP coinfection.

Temporal association between airway hyperresponsiveness and airway eosinophilia in ovalbumin-sensitized mice.

The temporal association between airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) has been analyzed in BALB/c mice sensitized to, and subsequently exposed to, a single intranasal challenge of ovalbumin (OVA). In OVA-sensitized/challenged animals only a small increase in responsiveness to methacholine (MCh) was seen at 8 h, peaked at 24 to 48 h, and resolved by 96 h. An early bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) neutrophil infiltrate (peaking at 8 h postchallenge; approximately 72% total cells was observed) that returned to baseline by 48 h. BALF eosinophil numbers did not increase until 48 h (approximately 32% of total cells), peaked at 96 h (approximately 38% total cells), and remained elevated at 8 d (approximately 27% total cells). Airway tissue eosinophilia preceded changes in BALF. Eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) levels in BALF were elevated in OVA-sensitized/challenged mice at 48 h only. BALF TNF-alpha levels peaked at 8 h, whereas IL-5 and IL-4 levels peaked at 24 h. IL-13 levels were increased at both 24 and 48 h. Mucus-positive cells were not observed in the airway epithelium until 48 h. Administration of IL-5 or VLA-4 antibody prior to OVA challenge prevented the development of AHR in sensitized mice as well as BALF and tissue eosinophilia. These data identify a temporal association between Th2 cytokine production, tissue eosinophil infiltration and activation, and, importantly, both the development and resolution kinetics of AHR. Moreover, the antibody studies further support the association of eosinophilia with the pathogenesis of AHR.

Measurement of interleukin 10 in bronchoalveolar lavage from preterm ventilated infants

BACKGROUNDInterleukin 10 (IL-10) is a cytokine that downregulates inflammation, in part by reducing the production of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-8. It has been suggested that an inability to...

Bronchoalveolar lavage in pulmonary tuberculosis: a decision analysis approach

We assessed the utility of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in 50 consecutive HIV-negative patients with clinical and radiographic findings suggestive of PTB, but with negative microscopy for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) on sputum smear. Patients were grouped, using a scoring system, into relative likelihoods of having PTB (I-IV, in descending probability). Patients were started on anti-tuberculosis treatment according to the BAL results. Bacteriological diagnosis of PTB was confirmed in 22/50 BAL; 11 (91.6%), seven (37%) and four (40%) of groups I-III, respectively. In 13 cases, an early diagnosis of PTB was made by positive microscopy for AFB on BAL; an alternative diagnosis was made in six cases (bacterial pneumonia 4, carcinoma 2). A decision analysis model was created to assess the overall utility of BAL. This suggested that in a region of high PTB prevalence, and when the clinical diagnosis of PTB is likely, empirical treatment is the best course of action, with BAL being reserved for further investigation of non-responders. Early BAL should be considered when the diagnosis of PTB is uncertain.

Rapid diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease by bronchoalveolar lavage.

Legionella pneumophila has, in recent years, emerged as a common pulmonary pathogen in the normal and immuno-compromised patient (ICP). Making a specific etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia in the latter group is a common clinical dilemma often complicated by poor specimen availability and risks of invasive procedures. Improved staining and isolation techniques for L pneumophila would suggest that early diagnosis could be possible if adequate specimens were available. This report summarizes our experience with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with which we have diagnosed L pneumophila in eight immunocompromised patients, well in advance of more traditional methods. On the basis of this experience, we would advocate early BAL in the ICP as a rapid, safe, moderately sensitive and specific diagnostic test to aid in the identification of L pneumophila.

Rapid Diagnosis of Legionnaires' Disease by Bronchoalveolar Lavage

Legionella pneumophila has, in recent years, emerged as a common pulmonary pathogen in the normal and immuno-compromised patient (ICP). Making a specific etiologic diagnosis of pneumonia in the latter group is a common clinical dilemma often complicated by poor specimen availability and risks of invasive procedures. Improved staining and isolation techniques for L pneumophila would suggest that early diagnosis could be possible if adequate specimens were available. This report summarizes our experience with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with which we have diagnosed L pneumophila in eight immunocompromised patients, well in advance of more traditional methods. On the basis of this experience, we would advocate early BAL in the ICP as a rapid, safe, moderately sensitive and specific diagnostic test to aid in the identification of L pneumophila.