BACKGROUND The impact of tuberculosis (TB) is exacerbated in Africa because of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) diagnosis is difficult in HIV-infected patients and negative sputum results are more common which leads to diagnostic delay and increases morbidity and mortality. Extra-pulmonary samples such as stool may be easier to obtain and our approac...

With the intention of improve knowledge on the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis (TB) among vulnerable populations in Brazil, our objective was to analyze sociodemographic characteristics and operational indicators related to TB control, comparing indigenous and non-indigenous people, in Rondônia. We conducted a retrospective and descriptive epidemiological study of new TB cases reporte...

OBJECTIVE To analyze tuberculosis outbreak index cases in order to improve preventative measures. METHODS Outbreaks reported in Osaka City between 2008 and 2014 were investigated. The index cases were examined according to category group, sex, age, chest radiograph findings, sputum smear examination, patient delay, doctor delay, total delay in case finding, and adherence to regular health exa...

OBJECTIVES To examine demographics, clinical correlates, sputum AFB (acid fast bacilli) smear grading DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy Short Course) uptake, and drug resistance in a cohort of newly-diagnosed, smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients with respect to HIV status at baseline, and compare smear conversion rates, side effects and mortality after two months. DESIGN A prosp...

BACKGROUND Computer-aided detection to identify and diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis is being explored. While both cavitation on chest radiograph and smear-positivity on microscopy are independent risk factors for the infectiousness of pulmonary tuberculosis it is unknown which radiographic pattern, were it detectable, would provide the greatest public health benefit; i.e. reduced transmission. ...

This retrospective study was intended to report the improved detection rate and also the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis at the Tamale Teaching Hospital of Northern Ghana. Sputum smear microscopy for acid fast bacilli (AFB) results of newly suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (Diagnosed Clinically) was analysed for the study. Patients and their demographic data, comprising age, and sex recorde...

BACKGROUND The impact of intestinal helminth infection on the clinical presentation and immune response during active tuberculosis (TB) infection is not well characterized. Our aim was to investigate whether asymptomatic intestinal helminth infection alters the clinical signs and symptoms as well as the cell mediated immune responses in patients with active TB. METHODOLOGY Consecutive, newly ...

Background Childhood leprosy is an important indicator of active foci transmission in the community post-elimination era. cases with disabilities are still prevalent, but often undertreated or misdiagnosed due to diminishing awareness and available studies on same limited. Aims objectives To study clinical presentation, WHO grading, duration, relation lepra reaction, smear positivity neurologic...

BACKGROUND Information on treatment outcomes among hospitalized patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) are scarce in China. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We conducted this retrospective study to analyze the characteristics and treatment outcomes in MDR- and XDR-TB patients in the 309 Hospital in Beijing, China during 1996-...

Background Sputum specimens were received from various out-patient departments of a tertiary care referral hospital to acid-fast staining and mycobacterial culture. Material & Methods A simple, one-step decontamination and concentration method was adopted before subjecting the samples to acid-fast staining and mycobacterial culture. Trisodium phosphate, a cheap, “soft” decontaminant-cum-liquefy...