Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) Stained Method: Presence and Absence of Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) of Pulmonary and Non Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Under Went Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment

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Tuberculosis continues to be a major health problem worldwide despite the fact that the causative agent was discovered more than 100 years ago. The impact of tuberculosis (TB) can be devastating, especially in developing countries suffering from high burden increasing every year. A prospective study was conducted at MGM Hospitals, Warangal. Between November 2012 to October 2013, Among 116 suspected smear positive pulmonary TB patients (52%), Fourteen cases were non pulmonary tuberculosis; therefore a total of 42 smearnegative cases were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis of suspected TB cases was based on national guidelines for the microscopic test of TB. Spot-morning-spot sputum samples from symptomatic patients were collected in standardized sputum containers and all the sputum tests were done using light microscope examination of Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stained smears at the point of care for the presence and absence of acid fast bacilli (AFB). Patients with positive sputum smears were placed on anti-tuberculosis treatment as recommended by Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP). The results reveals that, 64 (55%) males and 52 (45%) females. Of these, 64(55%) were identified based on Chest X-ray abnormalities, 52 (45%) were based on persistent Cough. All participants of the survey were first screened by symptoms and Chest X-ray. Those who had symptoms of consistent cough or haemoptysis, or Chest X-ray abnormalities were then screened by smear and culture. In study 32% Patients had smoking tendency and 68% patients were found to be non-smokers. Chi square test shows that there was significant difference in success rate between smokers and nonsmokers patients (X2=9.384, df =1,CI=95%, p value =0.002. Our article concludes that, newly diagnostic technology can accurately detect TB in patients and improve the outcome and appropriate counseling for individual can help to eradicate the tuberculosis from the universe.