A 29-year-old woman from a high TB-prevalence country presents with a 4-week history of cough, night sweats and weight loss. Chest X-ray shows right u...

Question

A 29-year-old woman from a high TB-prevalence country presents with a 4-week history of cough, night sweats and weight loss. Chest X-ray shows right upper-lobe infiltrates. What is the most appropriate next diagnostic step?

Accepted Answer

Arrange three early-morning sputum samples for acid-fast bacilli and send for culture

Answer

Start empirical antibiotics and review in 6 weeks

Answer

Arrange CT pulmonary angiogram

Answer

Bronchoscopy only

Answer

No further investigation; likely viral infection

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Pulmonary tuberculosis

A 29-year-old woman from a high TB-prevalence country presents with a 4-week history of cough, night sweats and weight loss. Chest X-ray shows right upper-lobe infiltrates. What is the most appropriate next diagnostic step?