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Critical Care
Published in: Critical Care 3/2007

01-06-2007 | Commentary

The simple and the simpler in pneumonia diagnosis

Authors: Thiago Lisboa, Jordi Rello

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 3/2007

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Abstract

In the absence of a perfect 'gold standard' for diagnosing pneumonia, comparing diagnostic performance between techniques remains controversial. El Solh and coworkers present a study evaluating use of quantitative endotracheal aspirate culture to enhance diagnostic accuracy in pneumonia patients admitted from nursing homes. We discuss the use of quantitative cultures and thresholds to differentiate between colonization and infection in pneumonia patients; we also consider the inaccuracy of diagnostic studies, which compromises the reproducibility of these data in clinical practice.
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Metadata
Title
The simple and the simpler in pneumonia diagnosis
Authors
Thiago Lisboa
Jordi Rello
Publication date
01-06-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Critical Care / Issue 3/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/cc5933

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