Probable cases were defined as at least one positive culture sputum, respiratory symptoms, resolution with specific therapy and no other concomitant infection.
Contraindications include mechanical ventilation, high dose steroids, previous pleurodesis and aspergillus in the sputum.
Sputum culture and paired sera test were both negative.
The diagnosis can be made by a sputum smear and culture but, where this is difficult to collect, bronchial lavage may be necessary.
We also performed blood culture specimens and in selected patients' sputum culture prior to antibiotic therapy.
The nature of the infecting organism should be checked by collecting sputum samples and performing at least three blood cultures.
We note that more slow-growing than fast-growing organisms were identified in the sputa.
In general, 24 (27.3 %) and 53 (60.2 %) used the liquid culture for sputum and lymph nodes respectively.
