The Stand of Induced Sputum and Bronchoscopy in the Diagnosis of Sputum Smear-negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Recent Study

The detection of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in sputum samples is essential for pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis. Sputum production may be absent in 40-60% of patients with probable pulmonary tuberculosis. Identification of active pulmonary tuberculosis disease patients is an important component of TB control as early appropriate treatment renders these patients non-Infectious and interrupts the chain of transmission of TB. We conducted a prospective study to examine the outcome of provoked sputum and bronchoscopy in patients with sputum Smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis and clinical and radiological characteristics suggestive of active pulmonary tuberculosis.

To compare the functions of induced sputum and bronchoscopy, acid-fast bacilli were demonstrated in all patients during bronchial washing, bronchial brushing, and post-bronchoscopy sputum. Additionally, it was noted that the group's average age was 44.61 ± 16.77 years. It was noted that 29 patients (63.0% of them men) and 17 patients (37.0% of them women) were present. AFB was detected in induced sputum in 14 (30.4%) of the patients and in 32 (69.6%), respectively. 21 (45.7%) cases had positive bronchial washes for AFB, while 25 (54.3%) cases had negative washes. In 23 (50%) cases, bronchial brushing for AFB was positive, and there were an equal number of negative cases. Our investigation shown that, in individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis whose sputum smears are negative, bronchoscopy is crucial in the diagnosis. In patients with significant clinical and radiological indications of pulmonary tuberculosis and those with more risk factors, bronchoscopy shows a higher bacteriological confirmation for tuberculosis diagnosis.