Detection Rates of Ziehl-nelseen Staining Technique and Fluoresecnt Microscopy in The Examination of Sputum for Acid Fast Bacilli

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis is endemic in developing countries but has re-emerged as a public health issue with the coming of Human immunodeficiency virus infection even in the developed world. Objective: To compare the detection rates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum specimens between Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique and Fluorescent microscopy. Methods: It was a retrospective study carried out from between June 2010 and May 2011 in a tertiary health centre in North-eastern Nigeria. In the first six months (June 2010-November 2010) detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was done using the Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining technique and in the last six months (December 2010-May 2011) detection was by Fluorescent-Auramine technique of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results: One thousand four hundred and eighty six (1486) patients were used, with 764(51.4%) females and 722 (48.6%) males. Sixty nine (10.6%) were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the Ziehl Neelsen method while 122 patients (14.4%) were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the Fluorescent Microscopy method p=0.029. Conclusion: The six months comparison of the two methods (ZN and FM) showed that the detection rates of acid- fast bacilli in sputum specimens had increased from 10.6% to 14.4 % respectively which is statistically significant.