High Predictive Value of the Acid-Fast Smear for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Despite the High Prevalence of Mycobacterium avium Complex in Respiratory Specimens

The value of the smear for acid-fast bacilli in predicting pulmonary tuberculosis is unclear in a setting where there is a high prevalence of Mycobacterium avium complex in respiratory specimens. To evaluate the impact of a high prevalence of M. avium complex on the predictive value of the acid-fast...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 1994-08, Vol.19 (2), p.334-336
Main Authors: Yajko, David M., Nassos, Patricia S., Sanders, Cynthia A., Madej, Janusz J., Hadley, W. Keith
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications
AIDS
AIDS/HIV
Bronchoalveolar lavage
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - microbiology
HIV
Humans
Infections
Microbiology
Mycobacterium avium
Mycobacterium avium complex
Mycobacterium avium Complex - isolation & purification
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - diagnosis
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - microbiology
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis - isolation & purification
Predictive Value of Tests
Prevalence
Pulmonary tuberculosis
Specimens
Sputum
Sputum - microbiology
Staining and Labeling
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnosis
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - microbiology
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The value of the smear for acid-fast bacilli in predicting pulmonary tuberculosis is unclear in a setting where there is a high prevalence of Mycobacterium avium complex in respiratory specimens. To evaluate the impact of a high prevalence of M. avium complex on the predictive value of the acid-fast bacilli smear for tuberculosis, we reviewed findings on smears and results of cultures over a 3-year period at a hospital where M. avium complex is the predominant mycobacterial isolate. In this setting, the predictive value of the acid-fast bacilli smear for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was 92% for expectorated sputum specimens, 71% for induced sputum specimens, and 71% for bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. When multiple specimens collected from the same patient were excluded from the data base, the predictive values were 87%, 70%, and 71%, respectively, Smears of sputum samples were positive at the same rate for patients with tuberculosis who had AIDS and for patients with tuberculosis who did not have AIDS.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1093/clinids/19.2.334