Occurrence with bacteriologically positive pulmonary tuberculosis.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Microbiology

Background:

• Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) management typically involves chemotherapy.
• Fever is a common symptom of active TB.
• Chemotherapy aims to resolve symptoms, including fever.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cause of persistent fever in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis undergoing chemotherapy.
• To determine the prevalence and types of concomitant septicemia in this patient group.
• To assess the diagnostic value of blood cultures in febrile TB patients unresponsive to treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of ten patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis and persistent fever.
• Review of blood culture results for bacterial identification (Gram-positive and Gram-negative).
• Correlation of blood culture findings with sputum and urine cultures, and assessment of leukocytosis and radiographic signs of superinfection.

Main Results:

• Fever remained unchanged by chemotherapy in all ten patients.
• Blood cultures were positive in all ten patients: six with Gram-positive and four with Gram-negative organisms.
• Concordant organisms were found in sputum and blood in six patients, and in urine and blood in two patients.
• Leukocytosis and radiographic evidence of superinfection were absent.

Conclusions:

• Persistent fever in pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated with chemotherapy warrants investigation for concomitant septicemia.
• Blood cultures are essential for diagnosing concurrent bloodstream infections in febrile TB patients, irrespective of leukocytosis.
• Early identification of septicemia is critical for appropriate management and improved patient outcomes in complex TB cases.