Pulmonary tuberculosis: A comparative study of conventional methods and serological diagnosis

The objective of the study was to evaluate mycobacterial identification and isolation rates obtained by different conventional methods. Sputum and serum samples were taken from 80 clinically diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases. Smear microscopy alone showed an efficacy of 85%, culture 90% and serology 72.5%, in diagnosis of PTB. The efficacy of smear microscopy increased by examining more than one sputum sample to about 98%. The correlation between smear, culture and serology was assessed. Further investigation of smear-negative cases with culture examination was done. Concomitant x-ray studies delineated the location and extent of the lesion, mostly exudative type confined to upper zone. The culture isolates subjected to drug susceptibility test, showed 27% multi-drug resistant strains.