SIGNIFICANCE OF BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION IN TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL
"The object of tuberculosis control is to break the chain of transmission of infection. This can be achieved by detecting the sources of infection as early as possible and rendering them noninfectious by chemotherapy. Transmission is maintained in the community particularly by subjects whose sputum is so heavily positive that tubercle bacilli can be detected by smear microscopy."
(The Ninth Report of WHO Expert Committee on Tuberculosis, 1974)
ROLE OF BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION IN NATIONAL TB CONTROL PROGRAMME
1) Case-finding
- Diagnosis of tuberculosis
2) Case management (Follow-up examination)
- Monitoring of patient's treatment
- Selection of retreatment regimen
3) Epidemiological survey
- Prevalence (incidence) of smear/culture positive cases
- Primary/acquired drug resistance
