Choosing wisely: comparing the carbon footprint of three respiratory sampling techniques for ventilator-associated pneumonia
Authors' conclusion
Bronchoalveolar lavage was associated with the highest carbon footprint and cost.
Study context
- Population
- Respiratory sampling for microbiological confirmation of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the intensive care units (ICU)procedures in 2023
- Participants
- 341 participants
- Exposure
- TA vs blind bronchial sampling (BBS) vs bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
- Outcome
- Carbon footprint of each technique (simplified LCA, Carebone© tool)
Methodological detailssimplified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), single-centre, cost analysis, nursing staff survey
- Simplified LCA
- Single-centre
- Cost analysis
- Nursing staff survey
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Carbon footprint per procedure
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Cost per procedure
Professional impact (nursing staff survey)
- BBS perceived the most practical technique overall; BAL the most technically demanding
ICU procedures in 2023 (73% BBS, 21% BAL, 6% TA)
- Total emissions
- 1,181 kgCO2e
- Total cost
- €20,835
Modelled scenarios of exclusive use in the ICU
- TA exclusively: emission reduction
- 84%
- TA exclusively: cost reduction
- 93%
- BAL exclusively: emission increase
- 91%
- BAL exclusively: cost increase
- 242%
Original publication
Choosing wisely: comparing the carbon footprint of three respiratory sampling techniques for ventilator-associated pneumonia. Ann Intensive Care. Published 8 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →