Microbiology: A Systems Approach 4th Edition by Marjorie Kelly Cowan

Exercise 10

From chapter 3, figure 3.21. Although there are many different organisms present in the respiratory tract, an acidfast stain of sputum, like the one shown here, along with patient symptoms can establish a presumptive diagnosis of tuberculosis. Explain why.
Figure 3.21 Microbiological stains. Acid-fast stain