URINE AFB CULTURE

The challenge of diagnosing active tuberculosis in its early stages remains a persistent hurdle, particularly given the prevalence of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections affecting a substantial portion of the global population, with a fraction progressing to tuberculosis (TB) over their lifetimes. This investigation focused on studying the incidence of urinary tuberculosis among renal patients. A comprehensive analysis of 300 urine samples was conducted, utilizing multiple detection methods including Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) smear examination, Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium, radiometric BACTEC460 system, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA Enzyme Immunoassay (DEIA) test to identify Mtb presence. Findings revealed a notably low incidence rate: only 2 positive samples were identified through ZN smears and LJ medium (0.66%), while 3 were detected using the BACTEC460 culture method (1%). Remarkably, PCR outperformed other methods, detecting 8 positive samples (2.6%). Specificity varied among methods, with ZN smears and LJ medium at 25%, BACTEC460 at 37.5%, and PCR exhibiting a robust 100% specificity. However, across all assays, sensitivities were uniformly high at 100%. This highlights the significant potential of PCR as a rapid and sensitive diagnostic tool for early detection of urinary tuberculosis, offering promise for timely interventions and enhanced patient management strategies.