A Simple Bayesian Network for Tuberculosis Detection

The early diagnosis of tuberculosis is important in reducing the exposure of other individuals to tuberculosis infection. Unfortunately, the identification of M tuberculosis in culture requires four to five weeks before the result is available. Even rapid genetic probes require one to two weeks after a laboratory receives the sample. Thus, it is common practice for physicians to place patients "suspected" of tuberculosis infection in isolation and on prophylactic antibiotics based on signs, symptoms, preliminary laboratory tests and radiological findings.