Table 1.

Clinical characteristics of study population

Number of patients	51
Male (n, %)	30 (59%)
Age (median, IQR)	51 (0–71)
Weight (median, IQR)	42 (4.9–60)
Surgical patients (n, %)	41 (80%)
Duration of mechanical ventilation (median, IQR d)	31 (13–104)
ICU stay (median, IQR d)	43 (15–104)
ICU mortality (n, %)	19 (37%)
Total hospital mortality (n, %)	24 (47%)
Number of samples	136
Antibiotics within 24 h of endotracheal aspiration (n, %)	64 (47%)
Use of saline during endotracheal aspiration (n, %)	64 (47%)