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Diabetic Foot Infection (duration) — Medical Practice MCQ

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HardInfectious DiseasesDiabetic Foot Infection (duration)

During treatment of pulmonary MAC, monthly sputum cultures become negative in January, February and March. How does BTS define the date of culture conversion?

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Correct answer: D — The date of the January specimen

BTS defines culture conversion as three consecutive negative cultures collected over at least three months, dated to the first of those negative cultures. The final specimen confirms conversion but does not set its date; smear negativity and radiological improvement are different endpoints.

Reference: British Thoracic Society guideline for NTM pulmonary disease. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5663249/