[Protected distal aspiration in the identification of pathogenic microorganisms in pneumologic intensive care].

To identify the micro-organisms responsible for bronchopulmonary infections in intensive care patients is an absolute prerequisite to successful treatment. Numerous techniques of specimen collection have been used to facilitate this bacteriological diagnosis. In this study, which involved 27 intensive care patients selected according to various criteria of infection, endotracheal aspiration (a commonly used but not very specific technique) was compared with protected distal brushing under fibroscopy and with protected distal aspiration. The latter method, still seldom used, proved as specific as protected distal brushing (hitherto regarded as the reference method), but it also presents the enormous advantages of being rapid, non-traumatic, devoid of side-effects and easily performed in hospital routine by paramedical staff.