Diagnostic Yield of Fiber Optic Bronchoscopy Washings amongPatients of Sputum Smear-Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Authors

Abstract

Objective: To assess the diagnostic efficacy of fiber-optic bronchoscopy (FOB) in identifying smear-negative pulmonary TB.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out at Institute of TB & Chest Medicine, Mayo Hospital Lahore from 15 7-2024 to 15-1-2025. Before FOB, patients were instructed to abstain from eating for 6 hours. The FOB was performed with local anesthesia. The BF type Olympus bronchoscope was used. The bronchi were washed using normal saline & recovery of up to a quarter of the fluid by suction was judged adequate. The hospital lab confirmed the presence or absence of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis by staining bronchial washings for AFB. Direct microscopy showing between 1 and 9 AFB/HPF in a bronchial washings smear indicates positivity. This data was gathered in a hypothetical scenario

Results

 FOB had a 57.5% diagnostic yield for identifying PTB patients that were positive despite a negative sputum smear. Patients between the age of 16 and 32 and those between the age of 49 and 60 had the greatest diagnostic yield (37%). However among patients of 33-48 years, diagnostic yield was 26.1% only. For both genders diagnostic yield for FOB was 50%. Diagnostic yield of FOB increases with increasing duration of symptoms. However patient's age, gender and duration of symptoms was not significantly associated with diagnostic yield of FOB.

Conclusion

 Our findings support the use of FOB for the quick and accurate identification of MTB in sputum smear negative patients who have clinical and/or radiological features of Pulmonary TB

Keywords:

Diagnostic yield, Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy, Smear Positive, Smear Negative, Pulmonary tuberculosis.

Published

2026/03/04

Issue

Vol. Volume 7-issue 1

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