Is Endotracheal Aspirate Adequate for Diagnosis of Pneumocystis Pneumonia?

In a Korean study, most cases of Pneumocystis pneumonia detected with PCR in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid also had test-positive tracheal aspirate.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP), an opportunistic infection in people with severely impaired immune function, is usually diagnosed with PCR in fluid obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); however, this invasive procedure is not always readily available and is associated with possible adverse effects. Is endotracheal aspirate (ETA) equally suitable for detecting Pneumocystis?

Researchers in South Korea evaluated 249 patients in the ICU (mean age, 69 years; 95% mechanically ventilated) who received treatment for suspected PJP from October 2018 through 2024. All patients underwent both BAL and ETA <48 hours apart, with the following results:

Similar numbers of patients were positive on PCR for Pneumocystis (BAL, 69; ETA, 72).
With BAL a…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Is Endotracheal Aspirate Adequate for Diagnosis of Pneumocystis Pneumonia?

Topics

Reviewing Author