A comparative study of CBNAAT and AFB smear for the diagnosis of sputum smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients in a tertiary health care centre of Southern Odisha

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is one of the most common infectious diseases & Continues to be the major health problem even today. Sputum smear negative (SSN) pulmonary tuberculosis is about 40% to 60% of the clinical and radiological suspected cases of pulmonary TB. Establishing early diagnosis and starting treatment early can have significant effect on morbidity and mortality in these patients. Broncho alveolar lavage (BAL) was obtained by fibro optic bronchoscopy (FOB)Objectives: Minimising the under and over use of anti-tubercular therapy in diagnosis of pulmonary TB. To compare between the sputum CBNAAT with BAL fluid CBNAAT , compare between sputum CBNAAT with BAL fluid AFB staining, compare between BAL fluid CBNAAT with BAL fluid AFB in diagnosis of SSN PTB.