title: Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis complicating HIV infection: superiority of sputum smear over bronchoalveolar lavage.
abstract: Tuberculosis should be prominently considered in the differential diagnosis when an HIV-infected patient has respiratory symptoms. Sputum smears and culture for acid-fast organisms should always be obtained. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy to exclude other concurrent opportunistic infections is appropriate because Pneumocystis carinii complicates as many as 25% of the cases of pulmonary TB, but acid-fast sputum smears should always be obtained. It should not be assumed that bronchoalveolar lavage is superior to expectorated sputum smear for the rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston Medical School 77030.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gateley
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Alonzo
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy