title: Routine culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis from bronchoscopy in Taiwan.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical Uniersity Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tun-Chieh
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jen-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Po-Liang
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chau-Chyun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Jong-Rung
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Inn-Wen
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Jhi-Jhu
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ming-Shyan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents