[Rapid diagnosis in tuberculosis by using the MB/BacT system]

428 clinical samples were examined by the MB/Bact system and by inoculation on "Tebeglut" medium. 43.9% of the samples were positive for Mycobacterium sp. when examined by MB/BacT system and 29.6% when cultivated on Tebeglut. The reported percent of positivity (43.9%) is highly superior if compared with those reported in other countries: Great Britain (9.1%), France, (7.0%). The MB/BacT system is much more effective in detecting mycobacteria if compared with Tebeglut cultivation, mainly in two categories of samples: those with no evidence of AARB and those with fewer than 10% AARB. From 156 Mycobacterium sp. isolated in MB/BacT system, 88.5% were M. tuberculosis, the others being atypical mycobacteria.