The diagnostic yield of acid-fast-bacillus smear-positive sputum specimens.
The yield of mycobacterial culture from acid-fast-bacillus smear-positive sputum specimens was 387 or 439 (88.2%). Forty-nine of 52 culture-negative specimens came from patients on treatment. We conclude that the yield of culture from smear-positive sputum specimens is very high and that only two acid-fast-bacillus smear-positive specimens are needed for the initial evaluation of pulmonary mycobacteriosis.
Stone
B L
BL
Department of Public Health, Denver Health, Colorado, USA.
Burman
W J
WJ
Hildred
M V
MV
Jarboe
E A
EA
Reves
R R
RR
Wilson
M L
ML
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology