biostudies-literatureJeng MNHLBI NIH HHSNIGMS NIH HHSe1008https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10656098biostudies-literatureUnknown5(11)<h4>Objectives</h4>Diagnosis of pneumonia is challenging in critically ill, intubated patients due to limited diagnostic modalities. Endotracheal aspirate (EA) cultures are standard of care in many ICUs; however, frequent EA contamination leads to unnecessary antibiotic use. Nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (NBBL) obtains sterile, alveolar cultures, avoiding contamination. However, paired NBBL and EA sampling in the setting of a lack of gold standard for airway culture is a novel approach to improve culture accuracy and limit antibiotic use in the critically ill patients.<h4>Design</h4>We designed a pilot study to test respiratory culture accuracy between EA and NBBL. Adult, intubated patients with suspected pneumonia received concurrent EA and NBBL cultures by registered respiratorCritical care explorationsNonbronchoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage Improves Respiratory Culture Accuracy in Critically Ill Patients.PMC10656098R01 HL155064T32 HL155005R35 GM149240Mehkri OMireles-Cabodevila EKhouli HVachharajani VYerke JJeng MOrsini EMDuggal AMujanovic SScheraga RGWang XfalseNonbronchoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage Improves Respiratory Culture Accuracy in Critically Ill Patients.<h4>Objectives</h4>Diagnosis of pneumonia is challenging in critically ill, intubated patients due to limited diagnostic modalities. Endotracheal aspirate (EA) cultures are standard of care in many ICUs; however, frequent EA contamination leads to unnecessary antibiotic use. Nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (NBBL) obtains sterile, alveolar cultures, avoiding contamination. However, paired NBBL and EA sampling in the setting of a lack of gold standard for airway culture is a novel approach to improve culture accuracy and limit antibiotic use in the critically ill patients.<h4>Design</h4>We designed a pilot study to test respiratory culture accuracy between EA and NBBL. Adult, intubated patients with suspected pneumonia received concurrent EA and NBBL cultures by registered respirator2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Nov2025-04-22T18:02:44.319Z2025-04-06T02:22:11.419ZS-EPMC106560983802084810.1097/CCE.0000000000001008