Methodology of protected specimen brush (PSB) in mechanically ventilated patients 28
| 1. Position the tip of the bronchoscope close to the segmental area corresponding to radiographic infiltrates. |
| 2. Advance the PSB 3 cm out of the distal tip of the bronchoscope. |
| 3. Push the inner cannula of the PSB to eject the polyethylene glycol plug. |
| 4. Wedge the brush in the subsegmental area or sample secretions if these are visualized |
| 5. Retract the brush into the inner cannula and the inner cannula into the outer cannula, and remove the PSB from the bronchoscope |
| 6. Once the PSB is out of the bronchoscope, the distal portion of the inner cannula is wiped with 70% alcohol solution. |
| 7. The brush is advanced and cut with sterile scissors into a sterile solution containing 1 mL of Ringer's lactate or saline. |
| 8. The tube with the PSB and Ringer's lactate or saline solutions is submitted immediately to the microbiology laboratory for processing. |