Table 1.
Diagnostic criteria of final diagnoses in patients with suspected pneumonia, Blantyre, Malawi*
| Disease | Confirmed | Probable |
|---|---|---|
| Bacterial pneumonia | - Positive culture of BAL and/or blood | - Suggestive clinical picture and improvement after receiving antibiotics |
| - Positive BAL PCR result for atypical bacteria | ||
| Pneumocystis pneumonia | - Positive BAL immuno-fluorescence | - Positive BAL PCR result (cycle threshold value < 35)18,19 and suggestive clinical picture and improvement after treatment for PcP |
| (> 5 oocysts per high-power field) | ||
| Pulmonary tuberculosis | - Positive BAL mycobacterial culture and/or AFB ZN smear | - Suggestive clinical picture and improvement after treatment for tuberculosis |
| Pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma | - Characteristic tracheo-bronchial lesions on bronchoscopy and suggestive chest radiograph | |
| Viral pneumonitis | - Positive BAL viral PCR result and suggestive clinical picture |
*
BAL = bronchoalveolar lavage; PCR = polymerase chain reaction; PCP = Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia; AFB = acid-fast bacilli; ZN = Ziehl-Neelsen.