Limited role for bronchoalveolar lavage to exclude COVID-19 after negative upper respiratory tract swabs: a multicentre study
Pietro Geri, Francesco Salton, Lina Zuccatosta, Mario Tamburrini, Marco Biolo, Annalisa Busca, Mario Santagiuliana, Umberto Zuccon, Paola Confalonieri, Barbara Ruaro, Pierlanfranco D’Agaro, Stefano Gasparini, Marco Confalonieri
Abstract
Given the strong agreement between negative upper respiratory swabs and BAL, we suggest that BAL has a limited role in the diagnosis of Covid-19 if thoracic imaging and upper respiratory swabs are concordantly negative.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineBronchoalveolar lavageRespiratory systemRespiratory tractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Respiratory tract infections2019-20 coronavirus outbreakInternal medicinePathologyLungDiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakCOVID-19 diagnosis using AILung Cancer Diagnosis and TreatmentRespiratory Support and Mechanisms