Spatum smear positive tuberculosis among tuberculosis patients in a sub-urban hospital in Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The global tuberculosis control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization. (WHO) directly observed therapy short Course (DOTS), is based on identification of sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases. The rate of sputum smear- positive tuberculosis has never been reported from this part of the country.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of sputum smear positive tuberculosis.
Materials and Methods: The study group comprised patients aged 14 years and above admitted either into the Infectious diseases or medical wards of the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru northeastern Nigeria from 1st January 2002 to 31st December 2002. Diagnosis of TB was based either on the detection of acid- and alcohol-fast bacilli on the sputum of suspected cases or the non-resolution of radiographic features following a course of broad spectrum antibiotic. All cases had sputum smear examination of three early morning specimens (5-10 ml each) by the Ziehl-Neelsen technique for the detection of tubercle bacilli.
Results: Fifty five patients with TB comprising 37 (67.3%) males and 18 (32.7%) females qualified for the study out of which one (1.8%) had extra pulmonary TB. Their ages ranged between 14 and 75 years with a mean of 35.6 ± 12.4 years. Thirty five patients (63.6%) had positive sputum smears for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, out of which 26(74.3%) were males. Twenty (36.4%) had negative smears.
Conclusion: There is a high rate of sputum smear positive tuberculosis among patients seen in this hospital and this may pose some risk to close contacts and care givers.


Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 7 (1) 2008 pp. 72-5