Open AccessFiberoptic bronchoscopy, as a valuable diagnostic option in sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis: A prospective study
Author(s) -
Saif Quaiser,
Agarwal Anil,
Ruhi Khan,
Syed Haque
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of applied and basic medical research/international journal of applied and basic medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2248-9606
pISSN - 2229-516X
DOI - 10.4103/2229-516x.106355
Subject(s) - sputum , medicine , bronchoscopy , bronchoalveolar lavage , tuberculosis , prospective cohort study , surgery , radiology , pathology , lung
World Health Organization recommends bacteriological confirmation of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) by the detection of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in respiratory specimens. However about 40-60% of patients with PTB suspected clinically or radiologically may fail to produce sputum, or when it is available, AFB may be negative on repeated smear examination. These sputum smear negative patients and those who fail to produce any sputum can be diagnosed by flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy.