EFFICACY OF SPUTUM SPECIMENS OBTAINED BY NEBULIZATION VERSUS GASTRIC ASPIRATES IN BACTERIOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS - A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

The induced sputum method as described by Barach and associates is a simple, effective, and well-tolerated method for obtaining sputum specimens for culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In a series of 607 cultures of paired sputum specimens and contents of early morning gastric aspirates, there were significantly more induced sputum collections positive for M. tuberculosis. Ten patients (9.5%) had bacteriologic diagnoses established by this method which would not have been possible by the usual routine gastric aspiration (and spontaneous sputum collections). It is believed that the culturing of induced sputum and early morning gastric aspirates are complementary and should be employed concomitantly to provide maximal opportunity to secure a positive bacteriologic diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.