OBJECTIVE To evaluate the sensitivity of induced versus expectorated sputum for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis by acid-fast smear. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of data on patients with cultures from respiratory secretions that were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We analyzed data on the 114 patients with positive cultures during a 4-year period in an urban ter...

Bacteria of the genus Legionella cause water-based infections resulting in severe pneumonia. Here we analyze and compare the bacterial microbiome of sputum samples from pneumonia patients in relation to the presence and abundance of the genus Legionella. The prevalence of Legionella species was determined by culture, PCR, and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Nine sputum samples out of the 133 ...

OBJECTIVE To assess the number of sputum specimens necessary for a reliable diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in a pastoralist population in Ethiopia. METHOD Using routine data from Ethiopia, where three sputum specimens are currently recommended for the diagnosis of PTB, we documented, (i) the proportion of persons with suspected, PTB who submitted a first, second and third sputum sp...

BACKGROUND The Indian guidelines on following up sputum smear-negative Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients differ from the current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in that the former recommends two follow up sputum examinations (once at the end of intensive phase and the other at the end of treatment) while the latter recommends only one follow up sputum smear microscopy examination...

In a retrospective study, case records of 1061 patients treated with antituberculosis drugs were examined to assess the criteria for diagnosis in each case. Seventy six percent had sputum examined for A.F.B. and 45% had mantoux test done. Five hundred and eighty one (55%) were diagnosed on radiology alone, while 262 (25%) had positive sputum for A.F.B. Only 50 (5%) of cases had positive Mantoux...

background tubercle bacilli most often are transmitted from one person by the airborne route. the aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of latent tuberculosis infection and active pulmonary tuberculosis among patients with chronic psychiatric disorders in hamedan. patients and methods in a cross sectional study, 215 patients with chronic psychiatric disorders were investigated...

In a retrospective study of 377 patients with bronchial carcinoma, sputum had been reported positive or suspicious for malignant cells in 59.7%. The most important factors contributing to a positive result were the histological cell type and the site of the tumour as assessed at bronchoscopy. Significantly more positive results were obtained in epidermoid tumours and those with a visible bronch...

Little is known about the drivers of two-month sputum smear non-conversion in the South African context. Our study sought to determine these factors in new sputum smear positive tuberculosis (TB) patients in South Africa's Free State Province. A retrospective record review was conducted for all TB patients on treatment between 2003 and 2009. Two-month sputum smear non-conversion was defined by ...

Background: In developing countries like India where there is very high prevalence of TB and TB HIV co-infection microbiological confirmation of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is of paramount importance. Objectives: To assess the significance of sputum induction (SI) with hypertonic saline nebulization as a diagnostic tool in patients with suspected pulmonary TB who have no/inadequate sputum or ha...

We examined the correlation between sputum colour and the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECBs). Data were pooled from six multicentre studies comparing moxifloxacin with other antimicrobials in patients with an AECB. Sputum was collected before antimicrobial therapy, and bacteria were identified by culture and Gram staining. Associatio...