Tuberculosis
Last updated: Thursday, 17, February, 2011
| Presentation | Appropriate Tests |
|---|---|
Mycobacteria testing as indicated by clinical presentation. Tuberculin sensitivity testing (Mantoux test) may be helpful in assessing the risk of active infection, but a negative test may be present in active disease eg miliary tuberculosis. The interferon-gamma release assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be used as an alternative to Mantoux testing. The possibility of tuberculosis should be considered early in patients with HIV infection and other forms of immunosuppression (eg steroid therapy, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia), in alcoholics and in those with over-whelming inferctions (eg meningitis). See also Infection (increased susceptibility) | |
Pulmonary | Sputum, bronchoscopy brushings, pleural fluid, or gastric lavage - mycobacteria testing. Lung or pleural biopsy may occasionally be required. |
Cough, chronic | |
Laryngeal infection | See Laryngitis |
Extrapulmonary | |
Skin Infection | |
Cerebrospinal fluid examination - microscopy and culture incl mycobacteria testing (see also Molecular genetics - microbial); protein, glucose. | |
Genitourinary | Urine (complete morning specimen) - mycobacteria testing. "Sterile pyuria" is a characteristic finding. |
Peritoneal fluid examination | |
Peritoneal fluid examination. | |
Miliary | Bone marrow aspiration - culture for M. tuberculosis. |