[Bacteriological aspects of diagnosis of tuberculosis associated with pneumoconiosis]

To determine the frequency and characteristics of bacterial discharge, a cultural investigation of 166 patients' sputa was performed in three groups: Group 1: 37 pneumoconiosis at 2nd and 3d stages and active TB cases; Group 2: 41 non-active TB cases; Group 3: 88 cases of pneumoconiosis without concomitant TB infection. The sputa were studied with bacteriological techniques to determine the biologically changed forms of MBT. As a whole, the L-forms were found in 66.3% cases: Group 1-97.3%, Group 2-56.1%, Group 3-57.9% cases. In Group 2 and 3, the L-form bacterial discharge was scarce, predominantly with small monomorphic vacuolized forms.