Routine culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis from bronchoscopy in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
The value of routine culture for mycobacterium from bronchoscopic washings and the cost-effectiveness is still uncertain in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. This study examined the epidemiology of positive cultures for M. tuberculosis obtained by bronchoscopy to determine the health benefit and cost of a policy of routine culture and smear.


METHODS
All positive cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in bronchial washings and the corresponding CXR features were analysed.


RESULTS
The incidence of tuberculosis in routine bronchoscopy was 3.71%, and in patients who presented with typical tuberculosis features on CXR was 6.5%. Up to 10.6% of culture-proven pulmonary tuberculosis relied on bronchoscopy for diagnosis. The total cost of routine mycobacterium culture and acid-fast bacillus smear during the 2-year period was approximately US $24,800.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine mycobacterium culture and acid-fast staining from bronchoscopic specimens appears to be valuable in countries where tuberculosis is prevalent.
Yang
Chih-Jen
CJ
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical Uniersity Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chen
Tun-Chieh
TC
Hung
Jen-Yu
JY
Lu
Po-Liang
PL
Sheu
Chau-Chyun
CC
Tsai
Jong-Rung
JR
Chong
Inn-Wen
IW
Hwang
Jhi-Jhu
JJ
Huang
Ming-Shyan
MS
D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
D004396:Coloring Agents