Prevalence of Invasive Aspergillosis
Among (PTB) Patients
in Kanchipuram, India
22-23
Correspondence
Dr. Sivasankari S.,
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute,
Enathur, Kachipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
Phone: (0)9444145904, E-mail: murugansivasankari1@gmail.com
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem worldwide. (PTB) is commonly associated with secondary aspergilloma. Repeated exposure of Aspergillus spores can aggravate the bronchial pathology and can manifest as asthmatic episodes.
Aim and Objective: Pulmonary invasive aspergillosis is difficult to evaluate. Culture based diagnosis is time consuming. Hence (PCR) was done to evaluate the invasive fungal aspergillosis in (PTB) patients.
Materials and Methods: Eighty sputum samples collected from TB patients were processed as per standard protocol. Species level identification was done using PCR.
Results: Among 80 patients, 26 isolates were obtained, only 8 were Aspergillus species. All Aspergillus were taken up for PCR evaluation.
Conclusion: Fungal infection should be suspected in all sputum positive patients. PCR is an effective tool to diagnose invasive aspergillosis.