Volume : 4, Issue : 9, September - 2015

Spinal tuberculosis : Modern Laboratory based approach, An experience from tertiary care hospital from India

Shashikala S, Amit Panjawani

Abstract :

<p>A total of 50 patients diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis at Seven Hills Health Care City, Mumbai, India during 2011 - 2013 were retrospectively analysed to investigate culture positivity rate and utility of Line Probe Assay (LPA). Microscopy was positive only in 14(28%) and culture was positive in 35(70%) cases. Sensitivity testing was done by Line probe assay in 18 cases and phenotype method in 3 cases. MDR TB was detected in 2(9.5%) and INH monoresistance in 3(14.28%) cases. The Lineprobe assay report was available to clinician within 48 hrs and anti-TB therapy was tailored accordingly. These 21 patients recovered clinically and radiologically except 1 patient who was lost on follow up. Considering the available methods, the ideal protocol for spinal tuberculosis would be to detect MTB complex from sample, culture, Line probe assay for MDR/XDR detection from culture positives to initiate appropriate therapy followed by phenotype sensitivity testing.</p>