[The comparative testing of the tuberculostatic sensitivity of M. tuberculosis strains in 2 diagnostic centers in Romania]. / Testarea comparativa a sensibilitatii la tuberculostatice a unor tulpini de M. tuberculosis în doua centre de diagnostic din tara.

The study of sensibility was carried out on 152 strains of M. tuberculosis by the method of absolute concentrations in two laboratories in Romania. The results obtained show an agreement in 71.05% of the cases. The high proportion of the disagreeing results shows the role of subjective and objective factors. The paper shows the possible modalities for correcting these factors.

[Aspects of the etiological diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculous infections]. / Aspecte privind diagnosticul etiologic al infectiilor tuberculoase extrapulmonare.

An analysis is made of criteria used for making an etiologic diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis over a period of 15 years, and a general correlation is noted between the figures for morbidity and those of bacteriologic confirmations. In the group of patients which has been investigated the diagnosis could be ascertained from urine samples in 44% of the cases, from lymph-nodes and nodules in 15% from pleural fluids in 14%, from purulent collections in 13%, and from the cerebrospinal fluid in 8% of the cases. Human type mycobacteria was evidenced in 90% of the cases. Bovine type of mycobacteria was found in 5% of the cases, with a higher frequency in the cerebrospinal fluid (14%) and in lymph-nodes (11%). In 79% of the cases the antibiogram has evidenced the sensitivity of the isolated strains. Resistance of the strains was noted in 10% of the cases. The strains isolated from lymph-nodes and nodules were resistant in a higher proportion (11%), and those from the pleural fluid in 15%.

[Bacteriological and epidemiological observations on atypical mycobacteria isolated at the laboratory of the Cluj-Napoca Tuberculosis Hospital]. / Observatii bacteriologice si epidemiologice legate de microbacteriile atipice izolate în laboratorul Spitulului de tuberculoza Cluj-Napoca.

Excluding cases of clinically manifest mycobacteriosis atypical mycobacteria can be detected in the excreta of healthy subjects, of tuberculous patients, or of other patients suffering from other diseases, without any major clinical implication. In certain environment conditions however epidemiologic manifestations may be induced by these organisms, of the hospitalism type. Atypical strains of the mycobacteria isolated over a period of 10 years represent 3.17% of all isolated strains. The highest percentage according to the Runyon groups were found in the IV-th group (43%), followed by the II-nd group (with 42%), and the III-rd group (with 11%). Diffusion of mycobacteria from the II-nd and the IV-th Runyon groups has determined hospitalism phenomena that developed in two distinct epidemic outbreaks determined by different factors.

[Non-culturable Koch bacilli during antitubercular chemotherapy]. / Bacili Koch necultivabili in cursul chimioterapiei antibuerculoase.

The authors have performed 58435 microscopic examinations, of which 3813 were positive, and found 209 (5,48%) cases of non-cultivable Koch bacilli. The major bacteriological, clinico-evolutive and therapeutical aspects are examined. Most of the cases showing a syndrome of positive homogenate with a negative culture were rather recent ones (an evolution of less than 2 years in 73,68% of the total) and the highest frequency was found in those in which the treatment was in its first year. No direct relationship could be demonstrated between the number of germs (the Gaffky scale) and the frequency of the syndrome. The factors influencing the occurrence and the development of the syndrome are: the structure of the lesions, the method of bacteriologic examination, the therapy applied, and a certain immunologic reactivity. According to the authors the significance of this syndrome is positive in most of the cases, indicating a regression that has not been completed. The most reasonable attitude is a differentiated one, depending on each case, integrating the data obtained by the bacteriological examination in the therapeutic and evolutive clinico-radiologic context.