Improved diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis using the microscopic- observation drug-susceptibility technique

Clin Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 15;46(6):909-12. doi: 10.1086/527447.

Abstract

Tests for pleural tuberculosis are insensitive and expensive. We compared nonproprietary microscopic-observation drug-susceptibility (MODS) culture with Löwenstein-Jensen culture for evaluation of pleural specimens. MODS culture was associated with greatly increased diagnostic sensitivity and shorter time to diagnosis, compared with Löwenstein-Jensen culture (sensitivity of culture of biopsy specimens, 81% vs.51%; time to diagnosis, 11 days vs. 24 days; P < .001). The MODS technique is inexpensive, allows drug-susceptibility testing, and is a considerably improved diagnostic method for pleural tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antitubercular Agents / pharmacology
  • Culture Media
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods*
  • Microscopy / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Time Factors
  • Tuberculosis, Pleural / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Pleural / microbiology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Culture Media