European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Introduction: Leprosy is an ancient, chronic, granulomatous, curable disease affecting the skin and peripheral nerves extensively and is caused by Mycobacterium (M) leprae. It remains a considerable health issue in many developing countries including India. Timely and accurate diagnosis is essential for leprosy management as it helps to spread and morbidity associated with it. Materials and Methods:  The Cross-sectional Prospective study was conducted between period August 2020 to September 2022 in a teaching hospital from urban industrial area. A total of 100 Skin biopsies from clinically suspected cases of leprosy were included in this study. Detailed histomorphological features were studied.  Bacteriological Index (BI) of acid fast bacilli was calculated on Fite ferraco stain. Results: The most common type of leprosy was BT (n=24). Males were commonly affected than females and commonest age group was 21-40 years (n=39). Majority of the cases in lepramatous leprosy (50%) had Grenz zone. Perineural lymphocytes (37.50%) and periadnexal lymphocytes (45.45%) were appreciated. Conclusion: Classifying leprosy is vital to decide the treatment course. It should only not be on the basis of counting skin lesions, but also through clinical, bacteriological, histopathological examination of the skin biopsies.

Study of diagnostic yield of induced sputum & bronchoscopic sample in sputum smear negative tuberculosis in tertiary health care centre.
Material and methods: 50 patients >18 years of age admitted to Chest ward with features of TB were included in this study. All the sample was sent to Intermediate Reference Laboratory, M.R.T.B. Hospital/Chest Centre, Indore. Subjects were included on the basis of their diagnosis of TB as per NTEP guidelines. Patients with sputum smear negative for MTB by ZN staining, clinically symptomatic patients suspected of pulmonary TB, cough more than 14 days, willing to participate and willing to give written consent and age more than 18 year were included in this study.
Results: In present study, most of the participants 23(46%) belong to age group 18-40 years. Out of 50 participants 31(62%) were male and 19(38%) are female. 19(38%) participants are educated and 31(62%) participants are uneducated. Most of the participants 39(78%) are Hindu by religion followed by Muslim 07(14%). Majority of the participants in present study 35(70%) reside in rural area, 23(46%) of the participants belong to lower middle economic social class. Out of 50(100%) AFB negative sample, 4 sample found positive in inducedsputum sample, were as 35(70%) sample was positive in BAL CBNAAT. The sensitivity and specificity of induced sputam(10.25% and 24.59% and BAL-CBNAAT( 89.74% and 75.40%).
Conclusion :According to the present study, as compared to sputum induced for AFB detects 4(8%) positive cases and BAL CBNAAT detects 35 (70%) positive cases. In a large proportion of cases, fiber optic bronchoscopy (BAL) aids in the early detection of pulmonary tuberculosis that’s produces negative smear tests. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is crucial in the diagnosis of patients with tuberculosis who were unable to generate sputum or whose sputum smears was negative. In some circumstances, it is both helpful and required.