[Diagnostic value of certain methods for isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in children with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to find out if bronchoalveolar lavage (BL) is better than gastric lavage (GL) or sputum (SP) examination for isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in childhood pulmonary tuberculosis.


METHODS
The study included a group of 30 children with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis, aged 6 months to 18 years. Gastric lavage was done on 4 consecutive mornings after overnight fast. Sputum was examined in 12 patients older than 10 years, (4 consecutive samples). BL was performed on the same day as the last GL and SP, using a rigid bronchoscope. Specimens were examined for the existence of BL acid fast bacilli (AFB) and culture for Mycobacterium tb.


RESULTS
Out of 30 cases, Mycobacterium tb was grown in 13 BL sampies (43.33%), and in 10 GL samples from the same patients (33.33%). Comparative analysis of microbiological samples of sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in 12 children showed that 6 patients had SP+ cultures and 6 patients had SP-cultures of Mycobacterium tb. All SP+ patients where also BL+, but 1 SP- patient was BL+. Smear examination of BL fluid samples was positive for AFB in 10 patients with positive cultures for Mycobacterium tb.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study indicate that BL examination is better than GL and SP examination for bacteriological diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis.
Petrović
Slobodanka
S
Medicinski fakultet, Novi Sad Institut za zdravstvenu zagtitu dece i omladine Klinika za pedijatriju.
D000293:Adolescent; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005751:Gastric Lavage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008853:Microscopy; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology