title: Use of acid-fast bacilli staining to determine the need for airborne infection isolation precautions: a comparison of respiratory specimens.
abstract: Institution of appropriate airborne infection isolation (AII) precautions for patients with suspected Mycobacterium tuberculosis is critical to prevent disease transmission. We compared the yield of acid-fast bacilli smears from different types of respiratory specimens and found that smear sensitivity was highest for specimens obtained by endotracheal aspirates (92%), followed by sputum (79%), and then by bronchoalveolar lavage (37%). As a result of this study, our institutional policy regarding discontinuation of AII precautions was amended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: csilkait@nmh.org.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silkaitis
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bardowski
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Infection Control, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, IL.
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coomer
authors.affiliation: BD Diagnostics, Sparks, MD.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trakas
authors.affiliation: Infection Control, Saint Anthony Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Mary Alice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lavin
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Susheel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Maureen K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bolon
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Teresa R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Zembower
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012634:Bodily Secretions / Q000382:microbiology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010356:Patient Isolation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission*
keywords: Acid-fast bacilli; Isolation precautions; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Respiratory specimens