Question

A 40-year-old man presents to a remote clinic with fever, night sweats and a chronic cough. He arrived in Australia 3 months ago as a refugee from a high tuberculosis prevalence country. Chest X-ray shows apical infiltrates and cavitation. What is the most appropriate next diagnostic step?

Accepted Answer

Sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and culture

Answer

Blood culture

Answer

Routine throat swab

Answer

Bronchoscopy only

Answer

No investigations; start empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics

Practice question

A 40-year-old man presents to a remote clinic with fever, night sweats and a chronic cough. He arrived in Australia 3 months ago as a refugee from a high tuberculosis prevalence country. Chest X-ray shows apical infiltrates and cavitation. What is the most appropriate next diagnostic step?