RESUMEN
We tried to develop a new, efficient, rapid, reliable and inexpensive method that permits mycobacteria detection and drug susceptibility for children and adolescents with pulmonary tuberculosis. Sputum samples were cultured by using [1]. the microscopic observation broth-drug susceptibility [MODS] method; [2]. radiometric culture technique by using BACTEC system; and [3]. culture on Lowenstein Jensen medium [LJ], in addition to Ziehl-Neelsen staining of sputum. Patients underwent tuberculin skin test. The results proved that the sensitivity of the different diagnostic tests was: MODS 79.3%, BACTEC 96.5%, and culture on LJ medium 55%. Specificity was high for BACTEC, MODS, and LJ medium as none of the 18 control sputum samples were positive by any method. The mean time of detection of mycobacteria was: MODS 10.4 +/- 3.79 days, BACTEC 9.1 +/- 3.1 days, and LJ medium 38.5 +/- 10.3 days. The mean time for doing susceptibility testing was: MODS 10.7 +/- 3.86 days, BACTEC 9.6 +/- 3.1 days, and LJ medium 38.9 +/- 10.6 days. Cost per sample for detection and susceptibility respectively was: MODS 2.7 and 17.5 L.E., BACTEC 25 and 77.5 L.E. and LJ 1.7 and 12.5 L.E. For diagnosis of tuberculosis, MODS method is a rapid, cheap, easy and efficient method for detection and performing susceptibility tests in Egypt