Abstract

Objectives. Evaluation of different methods for an initial treatment decision in individuals with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.
Background. Recently, important advances regarding the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis have been introduced, which influence the decision to initiate anti-tuberculosis treatment.
Methods. To evaluate the impact of different methods for the presumed diagnosis of tuberculosis, individuals with suspected tuberculosis were prospectively enrolled following a specific algorithm including initial smear microscopy and Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific nucleic acid amplification (NAAT) from sputum. In cases of negative initial test results, tuberculin skin testing, bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsies and interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)fluid were performed.
Results. Amongst 135 individuals with suspected tuberculosis, 42 had tuberculosis, 10 had nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary infection⁄colonization (one had both tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary infection⁄colonization) and 84 had an alternative final diagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity were 41% and 99%[positive likelihood ratio (LR+) = 40] for sputum microscopy and 31% and 98% (LR+ = 16) for BAL nucleic acid amplification, respectively. In patients with acid-fast bacilli smear-negative tuberculosis (25⁄42, 59.5%), M. tuberculosis-specific BAL fluid IGRA was 92% sensitive and 87%specific (LR+ = 7) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Conclusion. None of the microbiological or immunological methods that aim to provide a rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis whilst waiting the confirmation of the M. tuberculosis culture results is on its own accurate enough to diagnose or exclude pulmonary tuberculosis. Negative sputum microscopy and M. tuberculosis-specific NAAT results should prompt bronchoscopy including BAL for M. tuberculosis-specific IGRA in individuals with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.

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