Diagnostic Value of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Leukemic and Bone Marrow Transplant Patients: The Impact of Antimicrobial Therapy

There is significant morbidity and mortality from pneumonia in leukemic and bone marrow transplant patients. We sought to explore the diagnostic yield of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in these patients with new pulmonary infiltrates. A retrospective chart review of approximately 200 Non- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leukemic and Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients who underwent bronchoscopy at a single academic cancer center was performed. Antimicrobial use for less than 24 hours at the time of BAL was associated with a higher yield in this population (56.8% versus 32.8%, p<0.001). This supports performing bronchoscopy with BAL within 24 hours of antimicrobial therapy in leukemic and HSCT patients.