Direct detection by ligase chain reaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in pleural fluid

Our purpose was to investigate the utility of the DNA amplification by ligase chain reaction (LCR) for the direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) in pleural fluid specimens from patients suspected for tuberculous pleural effusion. We have used the LCx M. tuberculosis kit (Abbott) which uses the amplification of the gene that encodes for antigen b. We have examined 81 pleural fluid specimens by isolation (on L?wenstein-Jensen medium and MB/BacT system) and by LCR. Out of 10 positive specimens in culture, 4 were also positive by LCR; out of 71 negative specimens in culture, 8 were positive by LCR. We have re-evaluated the LCR results according to the clinical diagnosis, sustained by the successful therapy, and to the pathological diagnosis on the pleural biopsy. The sensitivity and specificity of LCR in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion were 31.5% and 100%. This commercial LCR kit is a rapid, specific, but less sensitive test for the routine diagnosis of the tuberculous pleural effusion.     

Tuberculosis of the female genital tract in patients attending an infertility clinic

Mycobacterium tuberculosis plays a major role in infertility, which is the commonest symptom of genital tuberculosis in women. From August 1987 to July 1988, 109 women presenting with infertility were investigated for tuberculosis. None had any other symptoms or signs of the disease. In all cases it was diagnosed by culture of M. tuberculosis in one or more of the 5 specimens (3 menstrual fluid specimens, endometrial tissue and peritoneal fluid) obtained from each woman. In addition Ziehl-Neelsen staining and histological examination were performed on all the specimens. Twenty-three patients (21%) had positive cultures for M. tuberculosis. Of the 26 positive specimens, 16 (69.6%) were menstrual fluid, 4 (17%) endometrial tissue and 6 (26%) peritoneal fluid (3 patients had more than one positive culture). Chest radiographs were normal in all cases. M. tuberculosis cultured in human tissue must be recognized as a pathogen and necessitates treatment. Selective screening procedures should be done to exclude genital tuberculosis as a cause of infertility.     

荧光定量PCR技术检测肺外结核患者样本临床应用

目的评估赛沛分子检测技术（结核分枝杆菌和利福平耐药基因）（GeneXpert MTB/RIF）检测心包和胸腔积液样本中结核分枝杆菌的有效性。 方法收集2015年1月至2017年6月天门市第一人民人民医院和汉川市人民医院收治的286例结核病疑似患者的临床资料,分别收集158例胸腔积液和128例心包积液样品。每个样品均经过抗酸染色涂片镜检、罗氏培养基结核分枝杆菌培养（LJ培养）和GeneXpert MTB/RIF测定。使用结核分枝杆菌罗氏培养作为金标准,评估GeneXpert MTB/RIF技术检测MTB的有效性。 结果在286例积液样本中,MTB通过LJ培养阳性者51例（17.8%）,GeneXpert MTB/RIF测定阳性者43例（15%）,抗酸染色镜检阳性者11例（3.8%）。GeneXpert技术灵敏度、特异性、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为84.3%、100%、100%和96.7%,抗酸染色方法的灵敏度、特异性、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为18.3%、99.1%、81.8%和85.4%。GeneXpert技术检查心包积液中MTB的灵敏度可达90%。GeneXpert MTB/RIF和抗酸染色镜检鉴定两种样本中结核分枝杆菌有效性的差异具有统计学意义（χ² = 233.199、33.715、P均< 0.001）。 结论GeneXpert MTB/RIF技术对于检测胸腔和心包积液中的MTB具有高灵敏度和高特异性。     

血液结核分枝杆菌液体培养在HIV感染者结核筛查中的应用评价

目的评价血液结核分枝杆菌液体培养对HIV感染者活动性结核病的诊断价值。方法 2006年8月至2008年7月,对广西省4个诊疗机构中HIV感染者进行包括临床、胸片、痰涂片、痰快速结核分枝杆菌培养和血液快速结核分枝杆菌培养在内的综合筛查以诊断活动性结核。分析结核分枝杆菌血培养在HIV感染者中的总体阳性率和在不同CD4水平患者中的阳性率,总结血培养阳性的结核病患者的临床特点,探讨血培养对结核的诊断价值。结果 602例HIV感染者在结核筛查时进行了血液结核分枝杆菌培养,7例检出结核分枝杆菌菌血症,血结核分枝杆菌培养在HIV感染者中的总体阳性率为1.2%。在CD4计数〈200/μl、〈100/μl和〈50/μl患者组中,血培养阳性率分别为1.4%、1.8%和2.4%,逐渐增高。共诊断活动性结核133例,其中结核分枝杆菌菌血症的阳性率为5.3%。血培养阳性的结核患者中位CD4仅为17/μl,均有明确的肺部影像学改变,2例有粟粒样表现,6例同时行痰结核分枝杆菌培养,其中5例（83%）阳性,5例患者伴有明确的肺外结核。与无结核分枝杆菌菌血症的结核/HIV合并感染者相比,有结核分枝杆菌菌血症的患者BMI和CD4计数较低,盗汗症状更常见。结论血液快速结核分枝杆菌培养在广西HIV感染者中的阳性率总体较低,但随着患者免疫缺陷的加重,阳性率逐渐增高。本研究中有结核分枝杆菌菌血症的HIV感染者均有明显肺部病变,且痰培养的阳性率高,提示结核分枝杆菌血培养对提高HIV感染者中结核的诊断率作用可能有限。     

馆陶县2012至2014年初治涂阳肺结核患者分枝杆菌培养及耐药

目的调查本县初治涂阳肺结核患者分枝杆菌培养及耐药情况,为分析结核病的防治措施提供依据。 方法选择2012-2014年于本县医院诊治的初治涂阳肺结核患者,在对其进行分枝杆菌培养的基础上,将阳性菌株送至本市相关实验室进行菌种鉴定以及药物敏感性分析。 结果本研究中共收治562例初治涂阳肺结核患者,其中性别比男︰女= 2.23︰1,平均年龄（41.2±3.7）岁;菌群类别：结核分枝杆菌492株（87.54%）,非结核分枝杆菌70株（12.46%）。敏感株为448株（79.72%）,耐药菌株为114株（20.28%）,其中耐多药菌株为36株（6.41%）,单耐药患者以耐链霉素（S）为常见（5.34%）,其次为耐异烟肼（称H）（4.63%）。多耐药中以至少耐异烟肼、链霉素（HS）为常见（22/562,3.91%）,其次为耐异烟肼、利福平（耐HR）（3.73%）。多耐药中耐两药者16例（2.85%）,耐3药者17例（3.02%）,耐4药者3例（0.53%）。耐药顺序为S > H > R > E。 结论中青年男性为肺结核防治的高危人群,需要对其进行密切防控。本县结核分枝杆菌复合群菌株的耐药率虽不高,但初治涂阳患者存在耐多药,需要进一步改进结核病的防控工作。     

Rapid diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosis by polymerase chain reaction and non-radioactive DNA hybridization

OBJECTIVE: To establish a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the rapid detection and identification of mycobacteria in urine, and to assess the value of such assay in routine laboratory diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urine specimens from 1000 patients with clinical suspicion of urinary tuberculosis were examined. Two assays for the detection and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) complex and mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT) by non-radioactive DNA hybridization of PCR-product were applied. The first assay used PCR primers and probe derived from M. tuberculosis species-specific DNA insertion sequence, IS6110. The second utilized mycobacterium genus-specific sequence encoding ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA). The results obtained by PCR were compared with those obtained by standard microbiological methods, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stain and culture. RESULTS: Compared with cultures, the sensitivity of AFB staining was 52.07% and the specificity was 96.7%. In comparison to the results of culture, the overall sensitivity and specificity of the IS6110-PCR assay was 95.59% and 98.12% respectively. While the corresponding results for the 16S rRNA gene-PCR were 87.05% and 98. 9%. CONCLUSION: The high sensitivity and specificity in addition to the potential for rapid detection of mycobacteria, makes this test a useful tool in the clinical management of mycobacterial infection in urine. Urine specimens may contain M. tuberculosis and/or other mycobacteria; therefore, there are advantages in using genus-specific primers in parallel with species-specific primers in PCR assay.     

Identification of HIV patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis using urine based polymerase chain reaction assay

BACKGROUND: Despite the increased dissemination of tuberculosis among HIV infected patients, the diagnosis is difficult to establish. Traditional microbiological methods lack satisfactory sensitivity. We have developed a highly sensitive and specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) capable of detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in urine specimens and have used this test to examine urine specimens from HIV patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: Urine specimens from 13 HIV infected patients with microbiologically proven active pulmonary tuberculosis, 10 AIDS patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection (documented by blood culture), 53 AIDS patients with no evidence of mycobacterial disease, and 80 healthy subjects (25 with positive skin test to purified protein derivative) were tested for M tuberculosis using PCR, acid fast staining (AFS), and culture. RESULTS: Of the urine specimens from patients with active tuberculosis, all tested positive by PCR, two by culture, and none by AFS. No reactivity was observed in urine specimens from patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection. Of the 53 AIDS patients without mycobacterial infection, one had a positive urine PCR. Normal subjects were all negative. CONCLUSIONS: Urine based nested PCR for M tuberculosis may be a useful test for identifying HIV patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.     

Pulmonary tuberculosis among political asylum seekers screened at Heathrow Airport, London, 1995-9

BACKGROUND: Over 50% of cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the UK occur in people born overseas, and new entrants to the country are screened for TB. A study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and disease characteristics of pulmonary TB in new entrants to the UK seeking political asylum. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the results of screening 53 911 political asylum seekers arriving at Heathrow Airport between 1995 and 1999 was performed by studying Airport Health Control Unit records and hospital medical records. Outcome measures were chest radiograph abnormalities, sputum smear, culture, and drug resistance data for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of active TB in political asylum seekers was 241 per 100 000. There were large variations in prevalences of TB between asylum seekers from different regions, with low rates from the Middle East and high rates from the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa. The frequency of drug resistance was high; 22.6% of culture positive cases were isoniazid resistant, 7.5% were multidrug resistant (resistant to both isoniazid and rifampicin), and 4% of cases diagnosed with active disease had multidrug resistant TB. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rate of TB in political asylum seekers entering the UK through Heathrow Airport is high and more M tuberculosis isolates from asylum seekers are drug resistant than in the UK population. Extrapolating these figures, it is estimated that 101 political asylum seekers with active pulmonary TB enter the UK every year, of whom about 25 would have smear positive disease.     

Clinical value of the measurement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific antibody in pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: A serological test that could help to diagnose tuberculosis, especially smear negative disease, would contribute to patient management. METHODS: Levels of antibody to distinct antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were assessed for their value in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary tuberculosis. Serum was taken from 52 patients who were smear positive, from 27 patients who were smear negative but with evidence of active tuberculosis (sputum culture positive in 16, response to antituberculosis chemotherapy in 11), from 11 patients with old healed tuberculosis (pre-antibiotic era), and from 39 healthy subjects vaccinated with BCG. RESULTS: In smear positive tuberculosis an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using a single 38 kDa antigen gave a diagnostic sensitivity of 80% with a 100% specificity. In smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis, however, combination of the 19 kDa antigen, lipoarabinomannan (ML 34 epitope), and hsp 65 (TB 78 epitope) was needed to achieve a sensitivity of 64% with a specificity of 95%. Recurrent and extensive radiographic disease with a poor prognosis was associated with high anti-38 kDa and low anti-14 kDa antibody levels in patients with active disease. Patients with less pulmonary cavitation had high anti-19 kDa titres. Bacteriological relapse during treatment was indicated by a rise in anti-14 kDa (TB68 epitope) antibodies. Four patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection showed no anti-38 kDa antibody. CONCLUSION: Antigen or epitope specific serology may help in the diagnosis, assessment of prognosis, and monitoring of chemotherapy in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.     

二代测序技术应用于脑脊液检测在结核性脑膜炎中的早期诊断价值

目的评价二代测序技术应用于脑脊液检测在结核性脑膜炎（TBM）患者中的早期诊断价值。 方法前瞻性纳入2018年2月2日至2018年8月2日于山东省胸科医院就诊的临床怀疑TBM的患者共50例,并跟踪随访其诊疗结局。送检脑脊液标本均进行二代测序,测序所得原始序列与病原微生物数据库进行对比得到最终结果。二代测序结果以检测到结核分枝杆菌复合群唯一比对序列为阳性,未检测到唯一比对序列为阴性。以符合脑脊液结核分枝杆菌培养阳性、涂片阳性、Xpert MTB/RIF检测阳性及结核分枝杆菌核酸检测阳性等4项中至少1项即为确诊TBM患者;临床可疑TBM且抗结核治疗有效为临床诊断患者;有其他病原学依据或临床排除TBM者为非TBM患者。分析二代测序在TBM早期诊断中的敏感性和特异度。 结果确诊为TBM患者22例中Xpert MTB/RIF检测阳性13例,培养阳性6例,结核分枝杆菌核酸PCR检测阳性5例,临床诊断为TBM患者12例,非TBM患者16例。在确诊及临床诊断患者中,二代测序技术检测到结核分枝杆菌复合群系列20例,敏感性为58.8%（20/34）,特异度为100%（16/16）。在确诊患者中,二代测序的敏感性为63.6%（14/22）;在同步进行结核分枝杆菌培养、Xpert MTB/RIF检测与二代测序的50例标本中,以临床诊断为标准,3种方法的特异度均为100%（16/16）;传统方法、Xpert MTB/RIF检测及二代测序的敏感性分别为29.4%（10/34）、38.2（13/24）和58.8（20/34）,前两种检测方法与二代测序敏感性差异均有统计学意义（McNemar检验：χ² = 8.333、P = 0.013,χ² = 8.333、P = 0.065）。传统方法与二代测序联合检测的敏感性高达82.4%（28/34）。 结论二代测序技术能够较快速地检测脑脊液中的结核分枝杆菌复合群,且其敏感性和特异度均较高,可作为TBM的早期诊断指标。二代测序联合传统检测方法可提高检出率。     

PCR检测非细菌性前列腺炎沙眼衣原体的初步研究

对３０例非细菌性前列腺炎（ＮＢＰ）患者的前列腺按摩液（ＥＰＳ）沙眼衣原体（ＣＴ）进行了聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）检测，并与经二乙氨基葡聚糖处理的ＨｅＬａ细菌培养法进行对比研究，结果发现，６例ＰＣＲ和细胞培养双阳性，２１例ＰＣＲ和细胞培养双阴性，３例两种检测结果不一致，包括２例ＰＣＲ阳性但培养阴性，１例培养阳性但ＰＣＲ阴性，将ＰＣＲ与细胞培养进行比较，ＰＣＲ的敏感性为８５．７％，特异性９１．３％，阳性预     

Rapid diagnosis of sputum negative miliary tuberculosis using the flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope.

Acid fast bacilli are seldom identified by direct staining of sputum smears in patients with miliary tuberculosis, so that delays in diagnosis are common. We report 41 patients with miliary tuberculosis who had negative sputum smears and who underwent bronchoscopy, bronchial brushing, and transbronchial biopsy. In two patients the procedure was repeated. A definitive diagnosis was obtained from bronchoscopy in 34 patients (83%). Bronchial brushings yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 24 of 42 bronchoscopies (57%), 13 from direct smear and a further 11 from culture only. Transbronchial biopsies were diagnostic in 30 of 41 procedures (73%), 28 from histological appearances, one from direct smear of the biopsy specimen, and another exclusively from culture. A rapid diagnosis was established in most patients (27/34), either by direct smear of brushings or biopsy specimens only (5), by histological examination only (14), or by both direct smear of brushings and biopsy specimens only (5), by histological examination only (14), or by both direct smear of brushings and histological examination (8). The diagnosis was confirmed later in a further seven patients by culture of brushings or specimens; in five of these non-caseating granulomas were initially found by histological examination. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy is a valuable technique for rapidly establishing the diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis.     

多聚酶链反应检测尿中结核杆菌的临床意义

应用多聚酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）对８６例患者（１０例经病理诊断为肾结核，６９例可疑肾结核，７例单纯附睾结核）和３０例健康对照者进行连续２日晨尿结核菌检测。１０例肾结核患者检出均阳性；可疑肾结核者第一次检出９例，第二次为６例；７例附睾结核者两次无一阳性；对照组有１例二次检查均为阳性。认为ＰＣＲ对尿中结核杆菌检出率高、准确、快速，值得在临床上推广应用。     

Urachal tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: We report on an extremely rare case of urachal tuberculosis that was confirmed using a polymerase chain reaction test of paraffin-embedded material. METHODS/RESULTS: A 62-year-old man presented with pollakiuria. With a diagnosis of urachal abscess, the patient underwent en bloc resection of the cystic mass. A bacterial culture test of the content showed no organism. The histopathologic findings suggested urachal tuberculosis. The AMPLICOR polymerase chain reaction test by using paraffin-embedded sections revealed the existence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the resected tissue. The only positive finding in systemic screening examinations for tuberculosis was old tuberculosis scars in the upper right lung. It was supposed that hematogeneous spreading from the lung lesion may result in urachal tuberculosis after a long latent period. CONCLUSIONS: Although urachal tuberculosis is an extremely rare condition, tuberculosis must always be kept in mind when observing any infectious diseases.     

酶联免疫斑点法在快速诊断活动性肺结核中的应用

目的探讨酶联免疫斑点法（ELISPOT）在临床快速诊断活动性肺结核病中的应用价值。方法：采用T—SPOT．TB试剂盒对36例明确诊断为活动性肺结核的初治患者、30例健康体检者的外周血中结核分枝杆菌特异性T淋巴细胞进行检测,同时对26例活动性肺结核患者做结核菌素（PPD）试验。结果在36例活动性肺结核初治患者和30例健康对照者中,T-SPOT检测的阳性率分别为80．6％与6．7％,此技术用于诊断初治活动性肺结核患者的敏感性为80．6％,特异性为93．3％,阳性预测值为93．5％,阴性预测值为80．0％。在26例同时做PPD试验的活动性肺结核患者中,T-SPOT检测的阳性率略高于PPD试验（80．6％vs61．5％）,但差异无明显统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论酶联免疫斑点法是一种具有较高敏感性和特异性的检测结核感染的技术,在活动性肺结核病的快速诊断中有较大应用价值。     

Rapid identification ofMycobacterium tuberculosis complex on urine samples by Gen-Probe amplification test

The aim of the study was to evaluate the applicability to urine samples of the AmplifiedMycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Detection Test (AMTD), which is currently used to identify this organism in respiratory specimens within a few hours. The study was performed on 95 patients, comprising 35 subjects with a high index of suspicion for active tuberculosis of the urinary tract and 60 subjects with evidence of non-mycobacterial disease. One urine specimen from each subject was examined by microscopy, culture and AMTD. AMTD was positive in 38 specimens and negative in 57. Assuming culture as the reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of AMTD were 100%, 91.93%, 86.84% and 100%, respectively. Reassessing the discrepancies between AMTD and culture by review of patients' charts, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of AMTD were 100%, 93.44%, 89.47% and 100%. The results of the study as well as the characteristics of AMTD encourage its use for the rapid recognition of urinary tract tuberculosis, although its findings should be interpreted cautiously when the clinical picture is not consistent with an active tuberculosis.     

Induced sputum and bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that bronchoscopy and a single induced sputum sample are equally effective for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: In a prospective study of subjects with possibly active pulmonary tuberculosis, the diagnostic yield of three induced sputum tests was compared with that of bronchoscopy. Subjects either produced no sputum or (acid fast) smear negative sputum. Bronchoscopy was only performed if at least two induced sputum samples were smear negative. RESULTS: Of 129 subjects who completed all tests, 27 (21%) had smear negative and culture positive specimens, 14 (52%) on bronchoscopy and 26 (96%) on induced sputum (p<0.005). One patient was culture positive on bronchoscopy alone compared with 13 on induced sputum alone; 13 were culture positive on both tests. Induced sputum positivity was strikingly more prevalent when chest radiographic appearances showed any features of active tuberculosis (20/63, 32%) than when appearances suggested inactivity (1/44, 2%; p<0.005). Induced sputum costs were about one third those of bronchoscopy, and the ratio of costs of the two tests per case of tuberculosis diagnosed could be as much as 1:6. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects investigated for possibly active or inactive tuberculosis who produce no sputum or have smear negative sputum, the most cost effective strategy is to perform three induced sputum tests without bronchoscopy. Induced sputum testing carries a high risk of nosocomial tuberculosis unless performed in respiratory isolation conditions. The cost benefits shown could be lost if risk management measures are not observed.     

Clinical value of polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of joint tuberculosis by detecting the DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Objective: To assess the clinical value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of joint tuberculosis (TB). Methods: PCR was used blindly to detect the DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.TB) in five specimens of M.TB, 5 of BCG, and 10 of other bacteria. Then, M. TB in 98 samples from patients with joint TB and 100 samples from patients with non‐tubercular joint disorders were detected by PCR, acid‐fast staining and culture,. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PCR were calculated. The χ2 test was used for statistical analysis of the frequency of various factors. At the same time, some problems with PCR were also systematically analyzed. Results: (1) In the “standard samples”, both M. TB and BCG showed positive while other bacteria were negative. (2) In 98 cases from patients with joint TB, 81 were positive by PCR, 6 by acid‐fast staining, and 17 by culture. In 100 cases from patients with non‐tuberculous joint disorders, 9 were positive by PCR, and none by either acid‐fast staining or culture. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value of PCR were 82.65% (81/98), 91.00% (91/100), 86.87% (172/198), 90.00% (81/90) and 84.26% (91/108), respectively. (3) The positive rates for PCR, acid‐fast staining and culture in detection of M. TB were 82.65% (81/98), 6.12% (6/98), and 17.34% (17/98), respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the three methods (P < 0.001). (4) The process of PCR is automatic, and can be completed within 3 to 6 hours, whereas 4 to 8 weeks are required for the conventional culture of M. TB. Conclusion: PCR is a sensitive, specific, rapid, simple and minimally invasive method for detection of M. TB in samples from joint TB, and can play an important role in early and rapid diagnosis and differential diagnosis of joint TB. But it also has some limitations, such as false positivity and false negativity.     

Use of amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct test (Gen-probe Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) in the diagnosis of tubercular synovitis and early arthritis of knee joint

Background:

The diagnosis of knee joint tuberculosis, especially in early stages of synovial disease, has more often been based on clinicoradiological suspicion, with no single test claiming to be a dependable rapid diagnostic test with high sensitivity and specificity. Nuclear amplification tests in vogue like the polymerase chain reaction have shown variable sensitivity and false positivity rates in various studies. We evaluated the role of Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Test (AMTDT) or Genprobe in the diagnosis of knee joint tuberculosis in early, especially, early synovitis and arthritis cases.

Patients and Methods:

Thirty two patients of suspected knee joint tuberculosis were subjected to diagnostic arthroscopy during the study period. The synovial fluid and tissue were subjected to mycobacterial culture, histopathology, and AMTDT. A comparative analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of this new test with culture and histopathology was done and the time taken for reporting was calculated for each test.

Results:

Out of 32 tissue samples, 8 were found to be positive with mycobacterial culture [Lowenstein Jensen (LJ)/Bactec], 11 were positive with histopathology, and 5 were found to positive with AMTDT. The sensitivity of AMTDT was found to be 62.5% and specificity was 100% with a P value of 0.083. The results were obtained earliest with AMTDT with a mean reporting time of 1.2 days, while the results of histopathology were obtained in a mean time of 6.8 days, BacT alert in 22.5 days, and conventional LJ medium culture results in 48.6 days.

Conclusion:

AMTDT or Genprobe is a rapid diagnostic test for early diagnosis of tubercular arthritis, but has low sensitivity in knee joint tuberculosis. Nuclear amplification tests are still far from being a single promising alternative to conventional tests in cases of joint tuberculosis. Routine use of arthroscopic biopsies in all suspected cases is helpful in the early diagnosis of knee joint tuberculosis.     

输尿管镜在早期泌尿系结核诊治中的应用

目的:探讨输尿管镜在早期泌尿系结核诊断和治疗的应用价值。方法:回顾性分析21例应用输尿管镜诊断和治疗早期泌尿系结核患者的临床资料。21例输尿管镜表现分别为输尿管狭窄14例、输尿管开口炎性水肿4例、输尿管下段息肉3例。18例通过输尿管镜收集肾盂尿作结核杆菌聚合酶链反应(MTb-PCR)、沉渣找抗酸杆菌(AFB)检查和结核杆菌培养诊断为泌尿系结核,其中16例(88.9%)尿MTb-PCR呈阳性,11例(61.1%)尿沉渣找AFB阳性,7例(38.9%)结核杆菌培养阳性。3例输尿管下段息肉,用输尿管镜摘除息肉作病理检查,2例病理诊断为输尿管结核,1例误诊为输尿管炎性息肉。11例输尿管下段狭窄予行输尿管镜狭窄内切开术,其余10例予行输尿管镜扩张置管术。除误诊为输尿管炎性息肉的1例患者外,20例术后均予抗结核治疗至少6个月。结果:21例平均随访18个月,12例(57.1%)一次手术治愈;8例出现狭窄复发,5例需再次行输尿管镜狭窄内切开术治愈,3例因狭窄多次复发致无功能肾行患肾切除术;误诊为输尿管炎性息肉1例,术后12个月复查发现患侧结核性脓肾及膀胱挛缩,予行患肾切除+乙状结肠膀胱扩大术。结论:早期泌尿系结核可表现为输尿管狭窄、输尿管开口炎性水肿或输尿管下段息肉。输尿管镜技术有助于早期诊断和治疗泌尿系结核。