Methods used for the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis are continually evolving in order to
achieve more rapid, less expensive, and accurate results. Acid-fast staining and culture for …

Many species within the genus Mycobacterium are prominent pathogens, above all
members of the M. tuberculosis complex, M. leprae, and M. ulcerans. In addition, there are …

Background. Microscopic examination of acid-fast-stained sputum smears is the current
standard of care in the United States to determine airborne infection isolation (AII) of …

We assessed the potential impact of GeneXpert MTB/RIF to make respiratory isolation
decisions for inpatients undergoing evaluation for tuberculosis, compared with smear …

Background Respiratory isolation of inpatients during evaluation for TB is a slow and costly
process in low-burden settings. Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) is a novel molecular test for …

Rapid, accurate detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is crucial in the diagnosis of
tuberculosis (TB), but conventional diagnostic methods have limited sensitivity and …

Methods Patients and Clinical Evaluation—One hundred thirty-five consecutive patients (63
male; 72 female) with clinical symptoms suggestive of intertriginous, vesiculobullous, and/or …

Background: Instead of the three samples previously recommended, the World Health
Organization considered that two sputum samples are sufficient for the diagnosis of …

3. Transmission-based precautions should be applied empirically based on clinical
suspicion and presence of defined disease processes associated with pathogenic …

Background Effective protocols for the isolation and de-isolation of patients with suspected
pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) are essential determinants of health-care costs. Early de …