RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is largely dependent on the Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) microscopy. This method has a low sensitivity, which can be improved by the concentration of the specimen with sodium hypochlorite (NaoCl), followed by centrifugation before doing acid fast staining (AFB). AIM: To study the improvement in the sensitivity of the sputum smear by the bleach method. Setting and Study Design: This study was conducted in BLDEU's Shri B.M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Bijapur, Karnataka, India. Eighty five patients who visited Shri B.M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre between January 2012 to December 2012 were investigated. On spot, morning and second on spot samples were collected from each patient. Direct smears were prepared and they were stained with the hot ZN technique and the remaining samples were concentrated by using 5% NaoCl, followed by centrifugation and staining with ZN stain. The improvement in the sensitivity following the bleach method was studied. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Fisher's exact test was used. RESULTS: A total of two hundred and fifty five specimens from eighty five patients were included in this study; each patient produced three specimens. AFB was detected in twenty five direct smears and in eighty four bleach smears. A statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in the positivity with the use of the bleach method was detected as compared to that with the use of the direct method. The ZN sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and the negative predictive value (NPV) were 29%, 99%, 96% and 74% respectively with a 95% confidence interval, with the use of the 5% NaoCl method. CONCLUSION: The bleach method has advantages over the direct ZN method, as it is simple and as it does not require any additional expertise beyond that which is required for the conventional direct smear microscopy. The materials and the reagents are also affordable and they are available locally.
RESUMEN
Chlamydia trachomatis has currently emerged as the most common sexually transmitted pathogen. It is usually asymptomatic and is difficult to diagnose clinically. It is one of the causes for bad Obstetric History (BOH) and infertility. Women at highest risk often have the least access to health care facilities. Therefore there is a need for a rapid, simple, inexpensive and non-invasive test to detect C. trachomatis infection. Serological testing forms the mainstay of diagnosing the disease and to treat BOH and infertility. Hence the present study was conducted. Enzyme linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used for detection of IgG antibodies against C. trachomatis. Out of 260 cases, 130 had history of BOH, 80 had history of infertility and 50 healthy pregnant women (HPW) were used as controls. The seropositivity of C. trachomatis in the study was 25.4% (66). Out of 130 cases of BOH, seropositivity was 27.7% (36). Out of 80 cases of infertility, seropositivity was 35% (28) and out of 50 cases of HPW seropositivity was 4% (2). In BOH cases, women with history of two abortions showed seropositivity of 7.3% and women with history of three or more abortions showed seropositivity of 62.5%. Hence, seropositivity of C. trachomatis infection was found to be significant among women with BOH and infertility as compared to HPW.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antibacterianos/sangre , Infecciones por Chlamydia/epidemiología , Chlamydia trachomatis/inmunología , Infertilidad Femenina/microbiología , Femenino , Humanos , Embarazo , Estudios SeroepidemiológicosRESUMEN
A rapid test for diagnosis of malaria based on acridine orange staining of centrifuged blood samples in a microhaematocrit tube (QBC) was compared with Leishman stained thin peripheral blood smear in 287 samples. Malaria was diagnosed in 44 patients by Leishman staining technique and in 65 patients by QBC method. The QBC method allowed detection of an additional 21 cases. Thus the prevalence rate of malaria during the study was 22.65%. In 222 Patients who were negative by the QBC technique, the Leishman stained smears were also negative for malarial parasite. Although QBC method was superior to the smear for malarial parasite detection, species identification was difficult by this technique. The QBC method provides a reliable, quick, easily mastered, accurate method for diagnosis of malaria. The QBC system can also be used in the diagnosis of other parasitic diseases from blood (Filariasis). However, Leishman stained thin blood film still appear superior for species identification.