Contribution of bronchoscopic lavage to the diagnosis of smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis

Objectives: Sputum acid-fact bacilli (AFB) and Xpert examinations are the most commonly used methods in early diagnosis for pulmonary tuberculosis. It becomes difficult clinician to initiate treatment patients with negative sputum smear at stage of diagnosis. Waiting culture results causes delay increases risk disease transmission. We aimed investigate contribution bronchoscopic lavage (BL) obtained flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) Methods: The BL 36 hospitalized tuberculosis clinic who were clinically suspected tuberculosis, but whose AFB negative, lavages taken by FOB, retrospectively evaluated. Results: examination was method that made a rate 27.7%. did not contribute statistically. found be close each other. In total, 50% confirmed. Conclusions: Performing on materials significantly increase