[A rapid bacteriologic method for the diagnosis and surveillance of nosocomial pneumopathies].

The authors report a rapid quantitative culture of endotracheal aspiration samples in mechanically ventilated children. There was a good correlation (94.7%) between clinical and radiographic features of pneumonia and a cutoff point of 10(5) cfu.ml-1. The sensitivity of this rapid quantitative culture was 85% when compared with usual quantitative culture.