[Comparative study of the bacteriologic value of samples taken by transtracheal aspiration or fiberoptic bronchoscopy].

To evaluate two methods of obtaining lower respiratory tract secretions, fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FB) and transtracheal aspiration (TA) were performed in ten patients. FB used an open-end brush-in catheter. TA was performed as described by Pecora. TA gave significantly better sensitivity and specificity (3/5 and O false positive results respectively) than FB (2/5 and 5 false positive results). TA gives specimens which reflect the bacterial flora of the lung more reliably than those taken during FB.