Clinical predictors of infectious pulmonary tuberculosis..

Authors

  • Joana Silvestre Serviço de Medicina III, Hospital São Francisco Xavier (CHLO), Lisboa.
  • Ana Leitão
  • Cândida Fonseca
  • Dolores Alberca
  • Filipa Marques
  • Ana Abreu
  • Inês Araújo
  • Isabel João
  • Ana Aleixo
  • Fátima Ceia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.694

Abstract

Introduction: The immediate identification of infectious tuberculosis and implementation of effective isolation measures, are a priority of the national policies for disease control. Objectives: To identify clinical predictor's factors related with sputum smear-positive, in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis. Population and methods: This was a retrospective study involving 289 patients admitted consecutively with the diagnosis of tuberculosis (ICD-9-CM: 010-018) through the emergency department of a Central Hospital. The study was conducted from January 1999 to December 2005. Results: 216 patients (74.7%) were identified with pulmonary tuberculosis: mean age 40.3 (SD 16.1); 77.8% males. Of these 179 (82%) were smear-positive and 157 (54.5%) had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection. Of the 37 patients with sputum smearnegative 18 (48.6%) had culture positive. The clinical factors that were better related with sputum smear-positive were: cough with sputum (p = 0.031) and classic chest radiograph patterns, parenchymal consolidation (p < 0.001) and cavitation (p = 0.002). HIV co-infection wasn't associated with a higher risk of infectious tuberculosis. Conclusions: Respiratory symptoms and classic patterns on chest radiograph, were clinical factors better related with a higher probability of sputum smear-positive. In these patients it is a good clinical practice to propose immediate isolation measures even before the results of sputum smear.

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How to Cite

1.
Silvestre J, Leitão A, Fonseca C, Alberca D, Marques F, Abreu A, Araújo I, João I, Aleixo A, Ceia F. Clinical predictors of infectious pulmonary tuberculosis. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2010 Jul. 30 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];23(4):625-30. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/694

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Section

Arquivo Histórico