Full Length Research Paper

Description and evaluation of mycobacterium tuberculosis diagnosis

Anochie, Philip Ifesinachi

Abstract

Early diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) and initiating optimal treatment would not only enable a cure of an individual patient but will also curb the transmission of infection and disease to others in the community. Of the several distinct components of TB control programmes, case-finding remains the cornerstone for effective control. However, there are no definite guidelines available as on date as how to use optimally the number of diagnostic tests ranging from simple AFB microscopy to complex molecular biological techniques which have become available over a period; to establish or rule out diagnosis of tuberculosis in a given patient. Therefore, there is need for description and evaluation of the existing important techniques available for the diagnosis of TB and drug susceptibility testing and their advantages and limitations which will help in the development of appropriate TB diagnostic guidelines for the implementation of TB control strategies.

Key words: Description, evaluation, techniques, diagnosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

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