Objective: To compare the diagnostic value of blind double-lumen plugged telescoping catheter (PTC) and protected specimen brush(PSB) in patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) for suspected ventilation-associated pneunonia (VAP).
Methods: Sixty-nine patients with a hospital stay of >/= 48 h who required MV for suspicion of VAP were prospectively enrolled in the study during Jan 2008 and Feb 2009 in the medical intensive care unit. The patients all underwent bronchial samplings: a blind PTC and a fiberoptic PSB were performed successively in each case. A positive culture for both sampling procedures was defined as the recovery of >/= 10(6) CFU/L of at least one potential pathogen.
Results: The overall specimen were judged by film preparation through the microscopic examination. The positive result of PTC and PSB were 60 (87.0%) and 58(84.1%) respectively. Bacterial culture was performed for all the specimen and PSB was regarded the golden standard. PTC had a sensitivity of 82.1%, a specificity of 92.7%, a positive predictive value of 88.5%, and a negative predictive value of 88.4%.
Conclusion: PTC may be a reliable alternative to the newly mechanically ventilated patients with suspicion of VAP.