The study was conducted with the objectives to compare the Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) staining and Culture for the diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis and to find out the burden of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis from the different site of the body in suspected TB patients. The standard Ziehl-Neelsen Technique was done for AFB staining and culture was done in Ogawa Medium. Of the 292 extra-pulmonary samples examined by AFB smear only 2(0.7%) were positive and of the 1058 extra-pulmonary samples cultured 20 (1.9%) were positive. The isolation rate for extra-pulmonary samples was three fold higher in culture in comparison to AFB Smear. The confirmation rate of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis was approximately 1/ 8th of the pulmonary tuberculosis by conventional bacteriological diagnostic methods. Of the extra-pulmonary tuberculosis renal, endometrial or pelvic and cold abscess were common in this study. M.tuberculosis was also isolated from peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, Synovial fluid, lymph node and cerebro spinal fluids only by culture. In conclusion, the standard AFB culture has significant role for diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, even though the conventional bacteriological technique could diagnose very low number of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. The new methods of diagnosis should be considered to confirm more extra- pulmonary tuberculosis.Key Words: Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, AFB Smear, Culture, Diagnosis, Nepal.
Comparisons among the diagnostic methods used for the detection of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in Bangladesh
