RECENT TECHNIQUE(S) FOR IDENTIFICATION AND SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MYCOBACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM DIFFERENT CLINICAL SPECIMENS

Abstract

At the begining of the 21th century, despite remarkable strides in the treatment of tuberculosis, the disease continues to be a major public health problem in many parts of the world, a situation that is projected to remain unchanged for years into the future. The •widespread emergence of isolates of Myeobacte1ium tuberculosis resistant to one or more a11tituberculous dmgs represents_ one of the most alam1ing factors during recent years. Delayed d.o.tection, identification, and susceptibility testing of drug-resistant isolates and failure to approptialcly isolatt: contagiou:; patient.<. and to begin <ttk:qualc chemotherapy have all been identified as predisposing factors of nosocomial and extram1socomial transmission of dmg-resistant M. tuberculosis. Considering the seoousness of tuberculosis sii11ation tn our countty, th(aim of this study \:vas to compare b;;tween LCR and. lVlC IT systems a; both are considered to be sensitive and rapid new tools f()r diagnosi::- of •rs. They wen: COTllJXtrcd with crmvcnl.ionai diagnostic methods (staining techniques and culture ou LJ media). Drug resistance pattern by direct proportion method was also done to compare between primary resistance ( patient who had nev<:r received antituberculous drugs), ;md secondary resistance fprv1ously treated patients) to the four comrnon antituberculous drugs. Based on the l.evel ofprnnary resistance in Egypt as Well as the resistance pattern of the relapse cases, the high rate of resistance could be explained by misuse of drugs espescially streptomycin and the lack of pahems compliance with the prolonged multidrug regimen required tot adequate therap); For these reasons, rapid identification of mycobacterial isolates along with rapid susccphhility testing of all isolates has become critical for therapy seiection and tor prevention of spread of resistant o;ganisms.