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Fibreoptic bronchoscopy was carried out in 46 patients of smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis. Smears were stained by Ziehl-Neelsen method and examined under light microscope. The bronchial brushing smears were examined by concentration method and cultured on Low-entein-Jensen medium. Prebronchoscopy and postbronchoscopy sputum specimens were subjected to similar examination. Prebronchoscopy sputum culture was positive in 21.73% of the patients. Acid fast bacilli in bronchial brush smear were detected in 33(71.73%) patients, while culture of bronchial brushings yielded positive results in 40(86.9%) patients. In smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis, fibreoptic bronchoscopy is useful in detecting the bacilli.
