Hospital Management of Tuberculosis in a Region With a Low Incidence of Tuberculosis and a High Prevalence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Abstract

AbstractWe prospectively assessed the management of patients with suspected tuberculosis (TB) in an area with a high prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and a low incidence of TB. Clinicians' assessments were sensitive for TB but had poor predictive value. The acid-fast smear was a weak predictor of TB, owing to a high rate of isolation of NTM.