The role of bronchial washings in patients with ‘suspect’ pulmonary tuberculosis was studied in 55 patients. Bronchial washings increased the diagnostic yield of tuberculosis by 28%. It was also able to accurately exclude active tuberculosis in 94% patients. Hence it is inferred that absence of acid-fast bacilli in smears of bronchial washings is equally important to exclude active tuberculosis.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
TomanK. Tuberculosis case finding and chemotherapy. Geneva: World Health Organization1979;9–13.
2.
Medical Research Council Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Unit. Treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients notified in England and Wales in 1978–79. Chemotherapy and hospital admissions. Thorax1985;40:113–20.
3.
JettJRCorteseDADinesDE. The value of bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of mycobacterial disease: a 5 year experienceChest1981;80:575–8.
4.
StoverDEZamanMBHajduSILangeMIGoldJArmstrongD. Bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of diffuse pulmonary infiltrates in the immunocompromised host. Ann Intern Med1984;101:1–7.
