OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a significant health problem worldwide. Pulmonary TB is a contagious disease. To control the spread of TB, the disease must be diagnosed early and treated effectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we determined the rates and periods of TB bacterial reproduction using the Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) and the Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) culture systems in respiratory specimens obtained from 105 suspected TB cases that applied to our service. RESULTS: Using either the LJ or MGIT method, the reproduction rates of TB cultures from 91 positively diagnosed cases were determined to be 69.2% and 92.3% (p=0.116), respectively. The reproduction period for these same cultures was determined to be 29.7±10.0 days and 12.1±6.1 days (p<0.0001), respectively. The culture positivity rate determined using both the LJ and MGIT methods together was found to be significantly higher than the rate determined using either LJ or MGIT separately (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: For the early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, which is essential for controlling the spread of TB, the routine use of the MGIT system, which is a rapid, automated and non-radiometric method, combined with the LJ method would effectively increase the diagnosis rate in order to control tuberculosis outbreaks.
OBJECTIVE:Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a significant health problem worldwide. Pulmonary TB is a contagious disease. To control the spread of TB, the disease must be diagnosed early and treated effectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we determined the rates and periods of TB bacterial reproduction using the Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) and the Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) culture systems in respiratory specimens obtained from 105 suspected TB cases that applied to our service. RESULTS: Using either the LJ or MGIT method, the reproduction rates of TB cultures from 91 positively diagnosed cases were determined to be 69.2% and 92.3% (p=0.116), respectively. The reproduction period for these same cultures was determined to be 29.7±10.0 days and 12.1±6.1 days (p<0.0001), respectively. The culture positivity rate determined using both the LJ and MGIT methods together was found to be significantly higher than the rate determined using either LJ or MGIT separately (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: For the early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, which is essential for controlling the spread of TB, the routine use of the MGIT system, which is a rapid, automated and non-radiometric method, combined with the LJ method would effectively increase the diagnosis rate in order to control tuberculosis outbreaks.
Authors: Antonio Sorlozano; Isabel Soria; Juan Roman; Pilar Huertas; Maria Jose Soto; Gonzalo Piedrola; Jose Gutierrez Journal: J Microbiol Biotechnol Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 2.351