Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of bronchoscopy in the pathogenic diagnosis of AIDS patients with pulmonary infections and to illustrate the constituent ratio of different pulmonary pathogens.
Methods: From August 2006 to September 2009, we performed bronchoscopies to 120 AIDS patients who had pulmonary infections. We described the manifestations under the bronchoscope and each patient underwent bronchoalveolar lavage for further detection including bacterial culture and pathological test. We also took biopsies in patients who had obviously abnormal lesions under the bronchoscope.At the same time, we collected the clinical information for analyzing.
Results: Among 120 patients, we found 30 cases of mycobacteria infection, 25 cases of bacterial infection, 12 cases of PCP, 5 cases of fungal positive, 3 cases of CMV. Bronchial mucosa biopsies were taken in 26 patients, 12 cases of chronic inflammation, 7 cases of granulomatous inflammation, 4 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 2 cases of adenocarcinoma and 1 case of lymphoma.
Conclusion: Bronchoscopy is a very useful tool and it's of great value for pathogenic detection in AIDS patients with pulmonary infections. At present, in China the main pulmonary infections in AIDS patients are TB, bacterial infection and PCP.