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Use of acid-fast bacilli staining to determine the need for airborne infection isolation precautions: A comparison of respiratory specimens.
Am J Infect Control. 2014 Sep 20;
Authors: Silkaitis C, Bardowski L, Coomer C, Trakas K, Lavin MA, Reddy S, Bolon MK, Zembower TR
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.
PMID: 25248484 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]