| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 6
| Issue : 6 | Page : 608-613 |
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Gastric aspirate smear microscopy as a diagnostic tool for childhood pulmonary tuberculosis
Eziyi Iche Kalu1, Chiedozie Kingsley Ojide2, Nwadike Victor Ugochukwu3
1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
2 Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria
3 Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Chiedozie Kingsley Ojide
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1755-6783.140218
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Background: Most tuberculosis (TB) control programs use positive sputum Ziehl-Neelsen (Z-N) smear microscopy results as a basis for TB case confirmation, valid enough to warrant commencement of treatment. Children do not only produce poor quality sputum a proportion cannot produce sputum, at all. Gastric aspirate (GA) smear microscopy, a recommended alternative, is the only available bacteriologic test in most health-care institutions. Objectives: This study was aimed to determine the usefulness of acid fast smears of GA for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB in children. Materials and Methods: A total of 263 GA samples from children with suspected pulmonary TB underwent Z-N staining and culture on Ogawa medium. Acid-fast isolates on Ogawa medium were sub-cultured on Ogawa medium containing para-nitrobenzoic acid (PNBA-Ogawa medium). Lack of growth on PNBA-Ogawa confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and ruled out non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Validity parameters were calculated with GA culture as "Gold standard". Results: GA samples from 33 (12.5%) of the 263 patients were smearing positive. However, GA culture on Ogawa medium was positive for MTBC in 97 (37%) of the 263 patients. Twenty-nine of the 97 culture-positive GA were also Z-N smear-positive, giving a GA Z-N smear sensitivity of 29.9%. Of the166 culture-negative cases, 162 were Z-N smear-negative, giving a GA Z-N smear specificity of 97.6%. Positive- and negative-predictive values were 88% and 70% respectively. Conclusion: GA smear microscopy is highly specific for diagnosis of pulmonary TB in children. The test can be useful in culture facility-limited settings as acceptable sensitivity can be achieved if specimen collection/handling protocols are strictly adhered to. |
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