Comparison of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with sputum culture in the diagnosis of sputum smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis.

Vijayan, V.K.; Paramasivan, C.N.; Sankaran, K.

Indian Journal of Tuberculosis; 1996; 43; 179-182.

Seventy one sputum smear negative, X-ray positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients were studied to assess the role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid culture in comparison with sputum culture for making bacteriological diagnosis. Thirty-three patients were bacteriologically proved by sputum culture examination. Of these, 24 (73%) had both sputum and BAL fluid specimens positive for M. tuberculosis . None had BAL fluid culture positive without sputum culture being positive. Thus, a single BAL fluid specimen cultured for M. tuberculosis is not superior to sputum culture in the diagnosis of sputum smear negative, X-ray positive pulmonary tuberculosis.

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