[Sepsis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients with AIDS]

Abstract

Background: Techniques for detecting mycobacteria in blood can be a good alternative for diagnosing tuberculosis in acquired-immunodeficiency syndrome patients (AIDS).

Patients and methods: Eleven patients with AIDS and pulmonary tuberculosis, and four controls with AIDS and without tuberculosis were studied. The diagnosis of mycobacteremia was made by the identification of the microorganisms in blood. The method used was a lysis-centrifugation with subsequent stain or culture identification in different media (agar Löwenstein-Jensen, M7H9, M7H11, brain-heart infusion and Sauton broth).

Results: In one case, direct staining of sample was positive. The culture results were positive in all 11 patients with tuberculosis and in none of the controls. M7H11 was the media that allows the fastest detection.

Conclusions: This technique can be a good alternative method for tuberculosis diagnosis in AIDS patients. Is easy to perform, relatively fast an with diagnostic performance. It also could be of interest in extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.