TB care
Diagnosis of TB is difficult in HIV-infected patients. In the
present study, a definitive diagnosis with microbiological
evidence was documented in only a third of cases (Table 1).
The mycobacterial laboratory in the high TB-prevalent setting
of Chiang Rai was overloaded with hundreds of sputum
samples but had a limited number of technicians. This
might have caused delayed diagnosis and treatment. Late
diagnosis of TB is likely to result in rapid deterioration of
the immunological status of HIV-infected patients, leading
to death shortly thereafter