Survival of tubercle bacilli in heat-fixed and stained sputum smears
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
96(2): 277-80, Feb. 2001. ilus, tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-281580
ABSTRACT
We used a slide culture technique to detect tubercle bacilli surviving in sputum smears (n=46) after conventional heat fixation and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. In all heat-fixed sputum smears, tubercle bacilli survived after time 0 (n=22), 24 h (n=7), 48 h (n=7), 72 h (n=4), and seven days (n=6). None of the stained sputum smears showed growth on slide cultures. Viable tubercle bacilli remaining in heat-fixed sputum smears for at least seven days may present an infection risk to laboratory staff. Thus, sputum smears should be stained immediately by the Ziehl-Neelsen method or stored in a safe container to avoid transmission of tuberculosis
Full text:
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Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Sputum
/
Coloring Agents
/
Hot Temperature
/
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2001
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
UFRJ/BR
/
Universidade Estadual de Maringá/BR
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