A 38-year-old man who recently arrived from a high-incidence country presents with cough, night sweats and 6 kg weight loss. Chest x-ray shows right

Question

A 38-year-old man who recently arrived from a high-incidence country presents with cough, night sweats and 6 kg weight loss. Chest x-ray shows right upper-zone cavitation. He works in a crowded shelter. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

Accepted Answer

Place in airborne isolation and obtain sputum for acid-fast bacilli testing

Answer

Give latent tuberculosis treatment without microbiologic testing

Answer

Order outpatient spirometry before infection control measures

Answer

Start antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia and reassess in a month

Answer

Request a routine chest CT after discharge

Pulmonary tuberculosis — MCCQE Part 1 MCQ

A 38-year-old man who recently arrived from a high-incidence country presents with cough, night sweats and 6 kg weight loss. Chest x-ray shows right upper-zone cavitation. He works in a crowded shelter. What is the most appropriate next step in management?