Utility of blood cultures and incidence of mycobacteremia in patients with suspected tuberculosis in a South African infectious disease referral hospital.

TL;DRAbstract

Bacteremia with M. tuberculosis complex was detected in HIV-infected patients with suspected tuberculosis, even in patients presenting with localized pulmonary infection on initial clinical assessment. Among patients with suspected tuberculosis, blood cultures were useful in diagnosing unsuspected MAC disease, but did not add to the diagnostic yield of conventional tests for tuberculosis used routinely, namely sputum microscopy and culture, or occasional biopsy specimens.

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