From <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.iacfa.org/pub/newsletter/nl01a/nl01ae.htm">http://www.iacfa.org/pub/newsletter/nl01a/nl01ae.htm</a> , "Colonization / Infection
"......the difference between colonization and infection......"
"In order to understand infectious diseases of the lung it is important to clarify the difference between colonization and infection. Most bacteria can colonize the mucous membranes of the larger and smaller bronchi, they are normally held in check by immune mechanisms of the host. In this case bacteria can be cultivated from specimens of the lower respiratory tract, but this does not automatically indicate infection.
Diagnosis of lung infection depends also on additional clinical information such as general parameters for infection (fever, high leukocyte count, high C-reactive protein, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate), decreased ventilation properties (shallow and frequent breathing), reduced physical performance, decreased oxygenation of red blood cells, and augmented ventilation pressure in the ventilated patient. A patient presenting 'positive respiratory specimen' and lung infection parameters must be treated adequately, which usually means prescription of antibiotics.
On the other hand mere 'positive respiratory specimen' with potentially pathogen bacteria does not qualify automatically for antibiotic treatment. Plain colonization can be controlled by various immune mechanisms and is normally transitory and self-limiting. "
You can also infer a lot of information from <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.ajmc.com/files/articlefiles/AMSub11_99southard677_84.pdf#search='difference%20between%20colonization%20pseudomonas'
">http://www.ajmc.com/files/arti...zation%20pseudomonas'
</a>
-LisaV
