RESPIRATORY CULTURES
There are many bacterial pathogens that can cause respiratory infections. The major potential respiratory bacterial organisms include Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter species, and enteric species.11 A specimen sample from the lower respiratory tract is obtained when VAP is suspected. This involves a specimen collection through suctioning the ETT or TT by using a sterile suction catheter. The specimen is withdrawn and sent to the laboratory for quantitative bacteriology. The presence of more than 10000 colony-forming units per milliliter of target pulmonary respiratory pathogens in minibronchoalveolar lavage fluid or a positive culture is considered to be a positive finding for the diagnosis of VAP.11 As soon as the sputum culture identifies a pathogen and not colonization, specific antibiotic treatment should be initiated.15