Abstract
Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an infectious agent responsible for major health problems and a large number of mortalities. The prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection varies across countries. Knowing the infection prevalence can aid in improving public health and reduce the associated costs. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) infection in suspected cases in Mashhad, Iran.Methods: All the clinical specimens suspected of TB infection were sent to a laboratory for diagnosis during -March 2017 to March 2018. The samples were analyzed microscopically using Ziehl–Neelsen staining, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the Mycobacterium tuberculosis species using IS6110 primers, and the samples were also grown on Lowenstein–Jensen medium.Results: Of 2,755 clinical samples analyzed, 153 (5.55%) were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis-positive, of which 54.9% originated from females and 45.1% from males. The highest rate of infection was observed in spring, especially in May (15%). Most TB cases were found in patients in VIP (43.1%), thorax (17%), and internal (15%) wards. TB infection was mostly detected in bronchial tube (70%) and sputum (23.5%) samples. The most common positive smear was 1+ (36%). Of the 153 cases, (147) 96.1% were culture –positive and 2% were PCR-negative also 84.3% were smear –positive.Conclusion: The highest rate of infection occurred in spring, when the number of religious tourists entering the city was at its peak. Considering the sensitive location of this city, awareness regarding TB status can lead to improved health in the community and development of basic strategies to control and eliminate the transmission of this infection from Mashhad to other areas.
Highlights
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
A wide range of efforts have been made to eliminate the disease in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) Plan to Stop Tuberculosis 2015-1998, many countries still report high TB infection rates, African and Asian countries (Organization, 2016a; Wang, Sng, & Tay, 2004)
We aimed to determine the prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in patients suspected of TB in Ghaem Teaching Hospital, Mashhad, Iran
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. A wide range of efforts have been made to eliminate the disease in accordance with the WHO Plan to Stop Tuberculosis 2015-1998, many countries still report high TB infection rates, African and Asian countries (Organization, 2016a; Wang, Sng, & Tay, 2004). Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an infectious agent responsible for major health problems and a large number of mortalities. The prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection varies across countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) infection in suspected cases in Mashhad, Iran
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
