Use of an innovative and non-invasive device for virologic sampling of cough aerosols in patients with community and hospital acquired pneumonia: a pilot study.

Background: The aetiology of lower respiratory tract infections is challenging to investigate. Despite the wide array of diagnostic tools, invasive techniques, such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), are often required to obtain adequate specimens. PneumoniaCheck is a new device that collects aerosol particles from cough, allowing microbiological analyses.

Mild-to-moderate hemoptysis: a diagnostic and clinical challenge.

Mild-to-moderate hemoptysis is defined as the expectoration of blood or blood-streaked sputum originating from the lower respiratory tract, in volumes that do not immediately threaten the patient's life. Nevertheless, it is a very common respiratory symptom and the list of underlying respiratory or non-respiratory diseases is vast, ranging from the most worrying to more easily manageable etiologies. In this narrative review, we have analyzed the most recent recommendations inferred from the literature, in terms of diagnostic as well as therapeutic approach.