Adnan Yusuf Choudhury1, MohammadAminul Islam1, Biswas Akhtar Hossain 2,Md.Mohiuddin Ahmad3, Mohammad Billal Hossain4, Md. Abu Raihan5, M.M. Hiron6
Abstract:
Background: World Health Organization recommends bacteriological confirmation of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) by the detection of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in respiratory specimens. However about 40-60% of patients with PTB suspected clinically or radiologically may fail to produce sputum, or when it is available, AFB may be negative on repeated smear examination. These sputum
smear negative patients and those who fail to produce any sputum can be diagnosed by flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy.