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Transtracheal Aspiration in the Severely Ill Elderly Patient with Bacterial Pneumonia
Author(s) -
BERK S. L.,
HOLTSCLAW S. A.,
KAHN A.,
SMITH J. K.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1981.tb01772.x
Subject(s) - medicine , streptococcus pneumoniae , aspiration pneumonia , pneumonia , bacterial pneumonia , intensive care medicine , surgery , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Transtracheal aspiration was performed in 32 elderly hypoxic patients with bacterial pneumonia. No morbidity or mortality was associated with the procedure. Gram stains of the transtracheal aspirate provided rapid, accurate delineation of the etiologic pneumonic agent, and were particularly valuable in indicating mixed bacterial infections. These included 5 cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae plus Gram‐negative bacillary pneumonia. The safety and value of transtracheal aspiration in the severely ill elderly patient are discussed.