BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of sputum quality and quantity on smear and culture positivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHODS: A total of 14 708 sputum specimens, collected from respiratory symptomatics in a TB prevalence survey, were evaluated for gross appearance and volume of sputum and examined by smear microscopy and culture. RESULTS: The smear and culture positivity increased with the quantity and the up gradation in quality of sputum, and the difference was significant. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the importance of visual screening of sputum specimens in the detection of pulmonary TB particularly in resource limited settings.
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of sputum quality and quantity on smear and culture positivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHODS: A total of 14 708 sputum specimens, collected from respiratory symptomatics in a TB prevalence survey, were evaluated for gross appearance and volume of sputum and examined by smear microscopy and culture. RESULTS: The smear and culture positivity increased with the quantity and the up gradation in quality of sputum, and the difference was significant. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the importance of visual screening of sputum specimens in the detection of pulmonary TB particularly in resource limited settings.
Authors: Emmanuel Musisi; Christian Dide-Agossou; Reem Al Mubarak; Karen Rossmassler; Abdul Wahab Ssesolo; Sylvia Kaswabuli; Patrick Byanyima; Ingvar Sanyu; Josephine Zawedde; William Worodria; Martin I Voskuil; Rada M Savic; Payam Nahid; J Lucian Davis; Laurence Huang; Camille M Moore; Nicholas D Walter Journal: Microbiol Spectr Date: 2021-09-08
Authors: Oscar José Chagas; Priscila Paiva Nagatomo; Vera Lucia Pereira-Chioccola; Ricardo Gava; Renata Buccheri; Gilda Maria Barbaro Del Negro; Gil Benard Journal: J Fungi (Basel) Date: 2022-02-24