Bronchial Onset of Reinfection Tuberculosis in the Adult

Chest x-ray examination and microscopic tsudy of bronchial washings were made in 500 persons apparently well but who were living in homes of persons who had contagious tuberculosis. Twenty per cent of the 500 cases presented x-ray shadows suggesting tuberculous lesions. In 14 cases of essentially clear x-ray films, tubercle bacilli were recovered from bronchial washings, and lesions in the trachea or bronchi or both were detected by bronchoscopy. The author believes these represent initial reinfection type of lesion in adults, which can be found early only by bronchial lavage and bronchoscopy. He recommends that all intimately exposed persons should have these procedures added to the usual examination for tuberculosis.