Bronch neutropenic febrile patients with infiltrates

BACKGROUND: The development of pulmonary infiltrate in neutropenic patients is potentially life-threatening, and requires early diagnosis and treatment. Bronchoscopic sampling is an established form of investigation in such patients. AIM: The aim of the study is to determine the diagnostic yield and complication rate of bronchoscopic sampling in patients with a haematological disorder presenting with febrile neutropenia and pulmonary infiltrate. METHODS: Medical records and laboratory investigations were retrospectively reviewed for all patients with a haematological disorder who underwent flexible bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or bronchial washing (BW) at Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand, after presenting with febrile neutropenia and pulmonary infiltrate between January 2008 and December 2009...