Microbiome Profiling Demonstrates Concordance of Endotracheal Tube Aspirates With Direct Lower Airway Sampling in Intubated Patients

Endotracheal aspirates (ETAs) are widely used for microbiologic studies of the respiratory tract in intubated patients. However, they involve sampling through an established endotracheal tube using suction catheters, both of which can acquire biofilms that may confound results.