[Quantitative relations in bacteriological research in tuberculosis]

The authors have carried out a comparative analysis of the sensitivity of the microscopic examination as compared with that of the bacteriologic cultures in the evidencing of the Koch bacilli in biologic products obtained from new cases of tuberculosis, before the start of any kind of treatment with tuberculostatics. The authors attempted to establish the proportion of positive results with the two tests in the conditions of an increased number of slides to be examined by microscopic methods from 1 to 4. At the same time other reciprocal quantitative relationships have been determined between these two tests, and differences were evidenced at the same time between the positive results obtained in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. It was concluded that for achieving an optimal output with bacteriological investigations of tuberculosis the ideal solution is to examine 3 slides prepared from a specimen, and to seed 3 culture tubes, or 4 tubes for asymptomatic patients.