Serial Changes in sTREM-1 During Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP)

The bronchoscope was passed through endotracheal tube via a specific adaptor without topical anesthesia. The bronchoscope was introduced and wedged into the segmental bronchial orifice where pneumonia was suspected. Five aliquots of 20ml sterile saline were instilled and aspirated gently. The first aliquot was discarded and the last 4 aliquots were pooled for analysis. Part of the retrieved specimen in the first BAL fluid was sent to the laboratory immediately after collection for measurement of sTREM-1 level, the rest of sample was sent to microbiology lab for quantitative culture.