Diagnostic techniques for ventilator-associated pneumonia: Conflicting results from two trials

Intervention: Using a 2-by-2 factorial design, subjects were randomly assigned to a) undergo bronchoalveolar lavage with quantitative culture of the bronchoalveolar-lavage fluid or endotracheal aspiration with nonquantitative culture of the aspirate, and to b) receive empirical combination antibiotic therapy or monotherapy. Empirical antibiotic therapy was initiated in all patients until culture results were available, at which point a protocol of targeted therapy was used for discontinuing or reducing the dose or number of antibiotics, or for resuming antibiotic therapy to treat a preenrollment condition if the culture was negative.