Background: One of the most contagious public health issues for many years, tuberculosis has also become more challenging to diagnose recently because of its link to immunocompromised individuals. Modern diagnostic methods, such as CBNAAT, can now provide positive results even when there are fewer tuberculosis bacilli in specimen samples. The purpose of the current study was to compare bronchial washings and induced sputum for the CBNAAT in the diagnosis of sputum smear-negative tuberculosis. Methods: From November 2021 to October 2022, a prospective, observational study was carried out in the pulmonary medicine department of Katihar Medical College and Hospital in Katihar, Bihar. In Katihar, Bihar, 43 patients with sputum-negative tuberculosis were recruited and given BAL fluid and sputum for CBNAAT analysis under RNTCP. Results: There were more male patients (67.45%) than female patients (32.55%). The majority of people are between the ages of 51 and 60, with a mean age of 49.18. Infiltration was the most frequent X-ray presentation, followed by consolidation. Compared to bronchial washings CBNAAT in 27 patients, induced sputum CBNAAT was positive in only 7 patients. Conclusion: All smear-negative and immunocompromised patients should undergo CBNAAT because it can diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis patients quickly, prevent transmission, and reduce mortality. In addition to helping with early diagnosis in less than two hours so that early therapy can be started, CBNAAT detects pulmonary TB in PLHIV more effectively than sputum microscopy. This decreases the incidence of MDR-TB and the mortality associated with it.

Background: One of the most contagious public health issues for many years, tuberculosis has also become more challenging to diagnose recently because of its link to immunocompromised individuals. Modern diagnostic methods, such as CBNAAT, can now provide positive results even when there are fewer tuberculosis bacilli in specimen samples. The purpose of the current study was to compare bronchial washings and induced sputum for the CBNAAT in the diagnosis of sputum smear-negative tuberculosis. Methods: From November 2021 to October 2022, a prospective, observational study was carried out in the pulmonary medicine department of Katihar Medical College and Hospital in Katihar, Bihar. In Katihar, Bihar, 43 patients with sputum-negative tuberculosis were recruited and given BAL fluid and sputum for CBNAAT analysis under RNTCP. Results: There were more male patients (67.45%) than female patients (32.55%). The majority of people are between the ages of 51 and 60, with a mean age of 49.18. Infiltration was the most frequent X-ray presentation, followed by consolidation. Compared to bronchial washings CBNAAT in 27 patients, induced sputum CBNAAT was positive in only 7 patients. Conclusion: All smear-negative and immunocompromised patients should undergo CBNAAT because it can diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis patients quickly, prevent transmission, and reduce mortality. In addition to helping with early diagnosis in less than two hours so that early therapy can be started, CBNAAT detects pulmonary TB in PLHIV more effectively than sputum microscopy. This decreases the incidence of MDR-TB and the mortality associated with it.