Fingerprinting of isolates by MIRU-VNTR genotyping and detection of isoniazid resistance by real-time PCR.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a great public health problem in developing countries such as Egypt. Genotyping of isolates has a prominent role in the field of TB prevention. This study aimed to evaluate real-time PCR using Minor Groove Binder (MGB) probes and to identify circulating lineages/sub-lineages of and their transmission patterns.

Bilayered Medium for Rapid Isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background: A bilayered medium (BLM) seemed to indicate a rapid recovery time from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) for the patients in question, namely, 48 hours.

Method: Sputum specimens collected from 112 patients with clinically suspected pulmonary tuberculosis were subjected to Ziehl-Neelsen staining and inoculation on Löwenstein-Jensen medium (LJM) and BLM.