Use of acid-fast bacilli staining to determine the need for airborne infection isolation precautions: A comparison of respiratory specimens

Christina Silkaitis; Laura Bardowski; Cara Coomer; Kathryn Trakas; Mary Alice Lavin; Susheel Reddy; Maureen K. Bolon; Teresa R. Zembower

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2014.08.005

Use of acid-fast bacilli staining to determine the need for airborne infection isolation precautions: A comparison of respiratory specimens

Christina Silkaitis^*, Laura Bardowski, Cara Coomer, Kathryn Trakas, Mary Alice Lavin, Susheel Reddy, Maureen K. Bolon, Teresa R. Zembower

^*Corresponding author for this work

Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Abstract

Institution of appropriate airborne infection isolation (AII) precautions for patients with suspected Mycobacterium tuberculosis is critical to prevent disease transmission. We compared the yield of acid-fast bacilli smears from different types of respiratory specimens and found that smear sensitivity was highest for specimens obtained by endotracheal aspirates (92%), followed by sputum (79%), and then by bronchoalveolar lavage (37%). As a result of this study, our institutional policy regarding discontinuation of AII precautions was amended.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1244-1246
Number of pages	3
Journal	American Journal of Infection Control
Volume	42
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2014.08.005
State	Published - Jan 1 2014

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Keywords

Acid-fast bacilli
Isolation precautions
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Respiratory specimens

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Epidemiology
Health Policy
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases

Cite this

Silkaitis, C., Bardowski, L., Coomer, C., Trakas, K., Lavin, M. A., Reddy, S., Bolon, M. K., & Zembower, T. R. (2014). Use of acid-fast bacilli staining to determine the need for airborne infection isolation precautions: A comparison of respiratory specimens. American Journal of Infection Control, 42(11), 1244-1246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2014.08.005

Silkaitis, Christina ; Bardowski, Laura ; Coomer, Cara ; Trakas, Kathryn ; Lavin, Mary Alice ; Reddy, Susheel ; Bolon, Maureen K. ; Zembower, Teresa R. / Use of acid-fast bacilli staining to determine the need for airborne infection isolation precautions : A comparison of respiratory specimens. In: American Journal of Infection Control. 2014 ; Vol. 42, No. 11. pp. 1244-1246.

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Use of acid-fast bacilli staining to determine the need for airborne infection isolation precautions : A comparison of respiratory specimens. / Silkaitis, Christina; Bardowski, Laura; Coomer, Cara; Trakas, Kathryn; Lavin, Mary Alice; Reddy, Susheel; Bolon, Maureen K.; Zembower, Teresa R.

In: American Journal of Infection Control, Vol. 42, No. 11, 01.01.2014, p. 1244-1246.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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AU - Silkaitis, Christina

AU - Bardowski, Laura

AU - Coomer, Cara

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AU - Lavin, Mary Alice

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Access to Document

10.1016/j.ajic.2014.08.005