Line probe assay for detection of complex: An experience from Central India.

Background & Objectives: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex may sometimes not be detected in sputum samples of suspected multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients by line probe assay (LPA) even though they are smear positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). This retrospective analysis was attempted to understand and document our experience with LPA for detection of M. tuberculosis complex and diagnosis of MDR-TB under programmatic conditions.

Public health relevance of non-tuberculous mycobacteria among AFB positive sputa.

Background: Sputum smear microscopy for acid fast bacilli (AFB) is used by most public health programmes to detect tuberculosis. While most AFB in countries endemic for tuberculosis are (MTB), some may also be non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The inability to differentiate NTM from MTB by sputum smear microscopy may lead to erroneous diagnoses of tuberculosis, leading in turn to inappropriate therapy.

Frequency of mutations in rifampicin and isoniazid resistant isolates of : an analysis from Central India.

Background: The spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis has challenged tuberculosis control strategies globally. The present study aims to analyze the frequency of mutations in , and genes in strains of complex (MTBC) circulating in Central India. It is anticipated that the findings may provide a starting point to understand the evolutionary success of drug-resistant strains of MTBC in this region.