Tracheal aspirate with closed suction device: A modified technique developed during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: Bacterial superinfection, as well as ventilation associated pneumonia (VAP), are both frequent events in critical care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, usual diagnostic practices such as bronchoalveolar lavage and tracheal aspirate are limited due to their associated high risk of exposure for the operator. In order to set primary focus on the protection of health care personnel, a modified tracheal aspiration (M-TA) technique was developed and used for acquiring microbiological samples from the lower respiratory tract using a closed suction device. METHODS: Retrospective observational study was conducted to evaluate effectiveness of an M-TA. RESULTS: A total of 33 M-TA samples were analysed. In 66.6% of the cases, results led to a change in medical decision making. A 100% accuracy was achieved regarding COVID-19 diagnosis, and a 56% bacterial growth-rate in cultures where VAP was suspected. No health care personnel developed symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 during or after sample collection. CONCLUSION: The M-TA technique presented could be considered as a safe and effective procedure with low percentage of complications.