AUTHOR=Tomassetti Sara , Ciani Luca , Luzzi Valentina , Gori Leonardo , Trigiani Marco , Giuntoli Leonardo , Lavorini Federico , Poletti Venerino , Ravaglia Claudia , Torrego Alfons , Maldonado Fabien , Lentz Robert , Annunziato Francesco , Maggi Laura , Rossolini Gian Maria , Pollini Simona , Para Ombretta , Ciurleo Greta , Casini Alessandro , Rasero Laura , Bartoloni Alessandro , Spinicci Michele , Munavvar Mohammed , Gasparini Stefano , Comin Camilla , Cerinic Marco Matucci , Peired Anna , Henket Monique , Ernst Benoit , Louis Renaud , Corhay Jean-louis , Nardi Cosimo , Guiot Julien 

TITLE=Utility of bronchoalveolar lavage for COVID-19: a perspective from the Dragon consortium

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1259570

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1259570

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=COVID-19 diagnosis can be challenging. BAL has shown to be feasible and useful in the diagnosis and management of both COVID-19 and its complications. This review summarises the evidences on the clinical and research utility of BAL in COVID-19 patients. Plain language summary: COVID-19 diagnosis and management can be challenging. BAL has shown to be feasible and useful in the diagnosis of COVID-19 and in the detection of coinfections, helping clinicians to guide appropriate treatment. Moreover, BAL is a potent research tool that is providing novel insights in the understanding of COVID-19 pathophysiology.Contributions to the study: all co-authors contributed to conception, design, draft and final revision of this manuscript.