Review

What is new in Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

Shashi Prakash, Shivanshu Singh, Divya Khanna, Anuradha Khanna and Ajay K. Khanna
World Journal of Surgical Research 2012, 1:8

Abstract

 

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by acid-fast bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It most commonly affects the pulmonary and less commonly the extra-pulmonary sites. It is one of the leading causes of global mortality and morbidity. Despite being such a common disease, the accurate, reliable and rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis has always been challenging even after years of research. Recently, the diagnosis of tuberculosis has reached a new horizon with the advent of molecular diagnostic methods. Still today, mycobacterial culture remains the reference standard test and majority of the newer approaches serve as a compliment to sputum smear microscopy and culture. Rapid diagnosis of drug resistance has opened new channels in the management of tuberculosis demanding the need for the development of effective treatment against MDR and XDR tuberculosis.

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