Microbiological diagnostic yield and clinical predictors of bronchoalveolar lavage in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Ezgi Erdem Türe; Melike Ak Ayaroğlu; Ceren Kılıç; Derya Doğan; Asena Dikyar; Oğuz Alp Gürbüz; Emine Bahar Kurt

doi:10.32322/jhsm.2012778

Microbiological diagnostic yield and clinical predictors of bronchoalveolar lavage in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Abstract

Aims: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is widely used to identify causative pathogens and guide antimicrobial therapy in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients; however, the factors associated with microbiological positivity remain poorly defined. This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological diagnostic yield of BAL, its impact on antimicrobial management, and the clinical factors associated with microbiological positivity. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 49 HSCT recipients who underwent 61 bronchoscopic BAL procedures. Demographic, clinical, radiological, laboratory, microbiological, and procedural data were collected from electronic medical records. Clinical characteristics were compared according to BAL microbiological positivity. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with microbiological positivity. Results: BAL microbiological positivity was detected in 28 of 61 procedures (45.9%). Ground-glass opacities and consolidation were the predominant chest CT findings. Aspergillus fumigatus complex was the most frequently isolated organism in culture, while galactomannan assay positivity and cytomegalovirus PCR detection were the most common positive microbiological test results. Antimicrobial therapy was modified following bronchoscopy in 29 procedures (47.5%) and occurred significantly more frequently in BAL-positive than BAL-negative cases (64.3% vs. 33.3%, p=0.016). Neither bronchoscopy indication, predominant chest CT pattern, neutropenia, ongoing antimicrobial therapy, nor BAL sample acceptance time was associated with microbiological positivity. Bronchoscopy-related complications occurred in only two procedures (3.3%), both consisting of minor bleeding. Conclusion: BAL provides an acceptable microbiological diagnostic yield with a low complication rate in HSCT recipients and has a substantial impact on antimicrobial management.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

none

Ethical Statement

The protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Ankara Etlik City Hospital (protocol AEŞH-BADEK1-2026-301 and date of approval 08/04/2026).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Chest Diseases

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ezgi Erdem Türe ^*
0000-0003-4285-3338
Türkiye

Melike Ak Ayaroğlu
0000-0002-8046-4686
Türkiye

Ceren Kılıç
0000-0001-7799-0100
Türkiye

Derya Doğan
0000-0003-1455-8681
Türkiye

Asena Dikyar
0000-0002-9108-876X
Türkiye

Oğuz Alp Gürbüz
0000-0003-1709-2733
Türkiye

Emine Bahar Kurt
0000-0002-3495-2339
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 25, 2026

Submission Date

August 9, 2026

Acceptance Date

October 21, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 6

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.2012778

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA75ZG76KD

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Erdem Türe, E., Ak Ayaroğlu, M., Kılıç, C., Doğan, D., Dikyar, A., Gürbüz, O. A., & Kurt, E. B. (2026). Microbiological diagnostic yield and clinical predictors of bronchoalveolar lavage in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, 9(6), 1915-1921. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.2012778

AMA

1.Erdem Türe E, Ak Ayaroğlu M, Kılıç C, et al. Microbiological diagnostic yield and clinical predictors of bronchoalveolar lavage in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9(6):1915-1921. doi:10.32322/jhsm.2012778

Chicago

Erdem Türe, Ezgi, Melike Ak Ayaroğlu, Ceren Kılıç, et al. 2026. “Microbiological Diagnostic Yield and Clinical Predictors of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 (6): 1915-21. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.2012778.

EndNote

Erdem Türe E, Ak Ayaroğlu M, Kılıç C, Doğan D, Dikyar A, Gürbüz OA, Kurt EB (October 1, 2026) Microbiological diagnostic yield and clinical predictors of bronchoalveolar lavage in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 6 1915–1921.

IEEE

[1]E. Erdem Türe et al., “Microbiological diagnostic yield and clinical predictors of bronchoalveolar lavage in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 1915–1921, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.2012778.

ISNAD

Erdem Türe, Ezgi - Ak Ayaroğlu, Melike - Kılıç, Ceren - Doğan, Derya - Dikyar, Asena - Gürbüz, Oğuz Alp - Kurt, Emine Bahar. “Microbiological Diagnostic Yield and Clinical Predictors of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9/6 (October 1, 2026): 1915-1921. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.2012778.

JAMA

1.Erdem Türe E, Ak Ayaroğlu M, Kılıç C, Doğan D, Dikyar A, Gürbüz OA, Kurt EB. Microbiological diagnostic yield and clinical predictors of bronchoalveolar lavage in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9:1915–1921.

MLA

Erdem Türe, Ezgi, et al. “Microbiological Diagnostic Yield and Clinical Predictors of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 9, no. 6, Oct. 2026, pp. 1915-21, doi:10.32322/jhsm.2012778.

Vancouver

1.Ezgi Erdem Türe, Melike Ak Ayaroğlu, Ceren Kılıç, Derya Doğan, Asena Dikyar, Oğuz Alp Gürbüz, Emine Bahar Kurt. Microbiological diagnostic yield and clinical predictors of bronchoalveolar lavage in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026 Oct. 1;9(6):1915-21. doi:10.32322/jhsm.2012778