[Sepsis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients with AIDS].
BACKGROUND
Techniques for detecting mycobacteria in blood can be a good alternative for diagnosing tuberculosis in acquired-immunodeficiency syndrome patients (AIDS).


METHODS
Eleven patients with AIDS and pulmonary tuberculosis, and four controls with AIDS and without tuberculosis were studied. The diagnosis of mycobacteremia was made by the identification of the microorganisms in blood. The method used was a lysis-centrifugation with subsequent stain or culture identification in different media (agar Löwenstein-Jensen, M7H9, M7H11, brain-heart infusion and Sauton broth).


RESULTS
In one case, direct staining of sample was positive. The culture results were positive in all 11 patients with tuberculosis and in none of the controls. M7H11 was the media that allows the fastest detection.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique can be a good alternative method for tuberculosis diagnosis in AIDS patients. Is easy to perform, relatively fast an with diagnostic performance. It also could be of interest in extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.
Máttar
S
S
Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital del Mar. Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.
Morta
M
M
Drobnic
L
L
Hernández
P
P
Pallarés
E
E
Gimeno
J L
JL
Gea
J
J
Torres
J M
JM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D002498:Centrifugation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications