Low Yield of Microbiologic Studies on Pleural Fluid Specimens

• Published in: Chest Vol. 127; no. 3; pp. 916 - 921
• Main Authors: Barnes, Terrance W, Olson, Eric J, Morgenthaler, Timothy I, Edson, Randall S, Decker, Paul A, Ryu, Jay H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Northbrook, IL Elsevier Inc 01.03.2005; American College of Chest Physicians
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bacteria - isolation & purification; bacterial culture; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the respiratory system; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Child; Child, Preschool; Dehydrogenases; empyema; Female; fungal culture; Fungi - isolation & purification; Heart failure; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infant; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical records; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Paracentesis; Pathogens; Pleural effusion; Pleural Effusion - chemistry; Pleural Effusion - etiology; Pleural Effusion - microbiology; Pneumology; Potash; Potassium; Proteins - analysis; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Stains & staining; Thoracentesis; empyema; CHF; LDH; bacterial culture; CI; fungal culture; pleural effusion; thoracentesis; AFB; Mycosis; Respiratory disease; Pleural effusion; Cardiovascular disease; Infection; Low; Pleurisy; Bacteriosis; Pleural disease; Empyema; Yield; Pleural fluid; Culture

It is generally recommended that pleural fluid samples from pleural effusions of unknown cause be cultured for bacteria, mycobacteria, and fungi. However, the utility of this practice has been not been adequately assessed Retrospective review Tertiary care, referral medical center Five hundred twent...