DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF DIRECT EXAMINATION OF PROTECTED SPECIMEN BRUSH SAMPLES IN NOSOCOMIAL PNEUMONIA

The value of direct examination of Giemsa and Gram stains of cytospin preparations of protected specimen brush samples was compared to that of quantitative culture. Sixty-one samples from patients suspected to have nosocomial pneumonia were analysed. Twenty-five samples were posi tive by quantitative culture, 21 of which contained microorganisms see n by direct examination, The presence of leucocytes was not specific f or a positive culture, but in their absence, a positive culture was un likely, The presence of intracellular organisms always correlated with a positive culture, but was not very sensitive.