Nosocomial pneumonia

Nosocomial pneumonia continues to be a major problem affecting hospitalized patients and is extremely difficult to diagnose clinically and radiologically. Gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common causative organisms. Bronchoscopy with protected specimen brush cultures and bronchoalveolar lavage are the most commonly used invasive diagnostic methods. Imaging modalities such as chest radiography, CT scans, and nuclear medicine studies lack specificity in diagnosing nosocomial pneumonia.