[The bacteriological diagnosis of pneumonia by transtracheal puncture. Value in medical intensive care (author's transl)].

Seventy five patients referred with a diagnosis of pneumonia underwent transtracheal puncture. In 76% of cases this examination led to discovery of an organism in infected patients. In 50% of cases, the bacteriological diagnosis was sufficiently accurately oriented by direct examination to permit rapid and effective treatment. There was virtually perfect agreement with the results of blood cultures when the latter were positive. The organisms most often responsible were Gram positive and above all the pneumococcus. These results led to narrow spectrum antibiotic treatment appropriate for the organism. This early treatment, based upon the results of tracheal puncture, was associated with a favourable course in 85% of cases, in particular in severely ill patients requiring intubation. No notable complications occurred.