Microscopic detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in direct or processed sputum smears

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Microscopic identification of active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) from direct smears of sputum (DS) is widely used for detection, but has limited sensitivity. Here, we assessed the yield of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) detection in processed sputum smears (PSS). METHODS: Sputum sam...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Main Authors: José Luiz de Oliveira Magalhães, Juliana Figueiredo da Costa Lima, Ana Albertina de Araújo, Ilyana Oliveira Coutinho, Nilma Cintra Leal, Alzira Maria Paiva de Almeida
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
Subjects:
Tuberculosis
Sputum processed
Smear microscopy
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Arctic
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0238-2017
https://doaj.org/article/f4ea1a3f33d04635b8b61b2789b10cf4
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Summary:Abstract INTRODUCTION: Microscopic identification of active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) from direct smears of sputum (DS) is widely used for detection, but has limited sensitivity. Here, we assessed the yield of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) detection in processed sputum smears (PSS). METHODS: Sputum samples were simultaneously analyzed by direct sputum smearing and after chemical treatment and spontaneous sedimentation. RESULTS: Of the 1,719 samples analyzed, 16.4% were positive for AFB in conventional DS and 21.4% in PSS, corresponding to a 30% increase in detection. CONCLUSIONS: Increased sensitivity from analyzing PSS and better safety protocols will contribute to improved detection and control of the disease.

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