IMPACT OF THE HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS EPIDEMIC ON DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM ISOLATES IN A GENERAL-HOSPITAL

The number of human samples processed in our mycobacteriology laborato ry ranged from 148 per 1,000 admissions in 1988 to 263 per 1,000 admis sions in 1995 (5.2% were positive). The human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV)-positive population contributed 33.3% of all samples, 43.3% of al l isolates, and 36% of all new patients. Given that the ratios of the total number of samples to the number of Mycobacterium-positive sample s were 18.3:1 in HIV-positive patients and 28:1 in HIV-negative patien ts, efforts to reduce the laboratory workload should begin with the HI V-negative population.