ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The presence of granuloma, visualized in histopathology for diagnosing tuberculosis in tissue samples, is not a specific finding. Moreover, histopathological examination of tissue sections needs one to two weeks for final reporting. A rapid and sensitive method is therefore needed for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in these paucibacillary tissue samples. METHODOLOGY: A PCR-assay specific for IS6110 was evaluated for 104 different tissue samples in comparison to histopathology that was considered gold standard. RESULTS: PCR showed 74.1% sensitivity and 96.1% specificity. False positive and false negative results were observed in three (2.88%) and seven (6.73%) samples, respectively. Positive agreement between histopathology and PCR was observed as 0.737, indicating substantial good agreement between two tests. CONCLUSIONS: PCR can be used for early diagnosis of tuberculosis in tissue samples that can help to initiate timely anti-tubercular treatment and prevent progression to irreversible changes.
Subject(s)
Granuloma/diagnosis , Granuloma/microbiology , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , DNA Transposable Elements/genetics , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , Early Diagnosis , False Positive Reactions , Humans , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics , Sensitivity and SpecificitySubject(s)
Burkholderia pseudomallei/isolation & purification , Melioidosis/diagnosis , Child , Female , Humans , India , Male , Melioidosis/microbiology , Middle AgedABSTRACT
One hundred strains of Enterococci obtained from various clinical specimens over a period of six months were speciated of which 56 were E. faecalis and 44 were E. faecium. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern showed 90% of them were resistant to penicillin and 20% of them were resistant to vancomycin. Comparative evaluation of Beta-lactamase production by iodometric method and cloverleaf method showed that the latter was cost effective and easy to perform for routine use.