Comparison of gastric lavage/sputum and stool specimens in the diagnosis of pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis- A pilot study.

Background And Objective: Global TB report 2021 mentions 11 % prevalence of pediatric TB, whereas 5.65% of the cases were reported from India in 2020. India features in the list of TB high burden countries, HIV-TB high burden and MDR-TB high burden countries.

Comparison of xpert MTB/RIF assay, line probe assay, and culture in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis on bronchoscopic specimen.

Background: In patients unable to expectorate good quality sputum or with minimal to none sputum production, bronchoscopic specimens may be collected. The objective of the study is to determine the use of Xpert MTB/RIF assay and line probe assay (LPA) in the diagnosis of pulmonary TB (PTB) using specimens collected by bronchoscopy in a tertiary care center.

Methods: Bronchoscopy specimens received in the TB laboratory were processed by microscopy, Xpert MTB/RIF assay, LPA, and mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) culture.

Utility of laboratory diagnostic tests in women suspected of genital tuberculosis attending a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Background: Genital Tuberculosis is a form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, which if not diagnosed early can lead to complications. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampin (MTB/RIF) assay in genital tuberculosis (TB) in comparison with culture as a gold standard.

Methods: The results of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay performed from January 2020 to August 2021 were compared with the results of culture by Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) 960.

Performance of loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and antituberculosis treatment initiation.

Background: Extra-pulmonary TB(EPTB) accounts for 15-20% of total TB cases in India. Many cases remain undiagnosed due to poor sensitivity/long turn-around-time of conventional diagnostic tests. Molecular tests offer rapidity, improved sensitivity and exquisite specificity, but are expensive, require skilled manpower and enhanced laboratory infrastructure.

Improved case detection using Xpert /rifampicin assay in skeletal tuberculosis.

Background: In India, musculoskeletal tuberculosis (TB) accounts for 10%-25% of extrapulmonary TB. Data on drug-resistant skeletal TB are lacking. At present, the diagnosis is based mainly on radiological techniques.

Pattern of missing probes in rifampicin resistant TB by Xpert MTB/RIF assay at a tertiary care centre in Mumbai.

Setting: Department of Microbiology.

Objective: To determine the common mutations responsible for rifampicin resistance in TB cases detected by Xpert MTB/RIF assay.

Design: Results of Xpert MTB/RIF assay performed from 2013 to 2017 were analysed for missing probes in different types of specimens containing rifampicin resistant MTB.

Unusual Presentation of Multibacillary Nodular Leprosy.

Despite India achieving the goal of elimination of leprosy as a public health problem, leprosy is still being transmitted in India. However, due to decreased clinical suspicion of leprosy and atypical case presentations, such cases may be not be diagnosed. We present a case report of an unusual presentation of multibacillary leprosy which presented as nodular lesions.

Fluorescein diacetate vital staining for detecting viability of acid-fast bacilli in patients on antituberculosis treatment.

Objective: To determine the performance of FDA vital staining method in detecting viability of acid fast bacilli in comparison with culture and also its correlation with conventional drug susceptibility testing results for isoniazid and rifampicin.

Design: The study was conducted from Jan 2014 to June 2015. Sputum samples of patients taking either Cat I or Cat II anti-TB treatment were tested by Ziehl Neelsen and FDA staining, culture and susceptibility to rifampicin and isoniazid at the end of intensive phase.

Diagnosis of pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis with special reference to polymerase chain reaction based nucleic acid amplification test.

Objective: To determine the utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosing pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis (PPTB).

Method: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 children less than 14 years of age, with strong clinical suspicion and radiological evidence suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Sputum samples/gastric lavage were collected.

Utility of light-emitting diode microscopy for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV infected patients.

Objective: To determine the utility of light-emitting diode fluorescent microscopy (LED-FM) for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in HIV-infected patients.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 400 HIV-infected, clinically or radiologically suspected PTB patients. Two sputum specimens were collected from each patient.

Time to sputum conversion in smear positive pulmonary TB patients on category I DOTS and factors delaying it.

Background: Sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients expel infectious viable bacilli for a period following commencement of treatment. Patients on Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) receive intermittent therapy with multidrug regimen.

Aims: To determine the time to sputum smear and culture conversion following initiation of DOTS treatment and study the factors that influence it.

Utility of MPT 64 antigen detection assay for rapid characterization of mycobacteria in a resource constrained setting.

Introduction: Important reasons for the negligible numbers of laboratories performing characterization of Mycobacteria in resource constrained settings are requirement of biosafety measures, longer turnaround time and laborious nature of tests. A rapid, accurate and simple test for characterization is required. "SD BIOLINE TB Ag MPT 64 Rapid" is a rapid immunochromatographic test for differentiation of Mycobacteria into M.

An in-house multiplex PCR test for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, its validation & comparison with a single target TB-PCR kit.

Background & Objectives: The conventional techniques used in TB diagnosis like AFB (acid fast bacilli) smear microscopy lack sensitivity and the gold standard, culture test takes time. A test based on multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 38 kDa gene and IS6110 insertion sequence, specific to Mycobacterium tuberculosis was developed to further increase the sensitivity of a TB-PCR kit targeting only 38 kDa gene developed earlier in the same laboratory. The multiplex test was validated using sputum samples from pulmonary TB (PTB) cases.

Incremental yield in sputum smear positivity by examining a second early morning sputum specimen in follow-up patients on DOTS: 7 year analysis of RNTCP laboratory register.

Background: Patients receiving DOTS undergo periodic follow-up sputum examination, which aids in monitoring response to treatment. Continued or new smear positivity at follow up examination entails extension of intensive phase or change in treatment category and the need for culture and drug susceptibility test.

Setting: Tuberculosis microscopy centre at a tertiary care teaching hospital, Mumbai, India.

Utility of Microscopic Observation of Drug Susceptibility (MODS) assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in resource constrained settings.

Introduction: Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) is a global health problem. Conventional techniques or automated systems for diagnosis and drug susceptibility testing are either comparatively slow or costly. Microscopic Observation Drug Susceptibility [MODS] assay is a simultaneous detection and direct drug susceptibility test [DST] method which relies on the characteristic growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in a liquid medium.