RETROSPECTIVE STUDY EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF LJ MEDIUM ALONG WITH PENICILLIN TO IMPROVE CULTURE YIELD OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS IN PATIENTS

This study evaluated the efficacy of penicillin in improving culture yield M. Tuberculosis cases pulmonary tuberculosis. A retrospective was conducted Department Pathology, MMDC, Multan. total 350 suspected tuberculosis patients were selected for study. An early morning sputum specimen collected. NAOH citrate and N-acetyl-L-cysteine used digesting, decontaminating, homogenizing sputum. The samples processed on Lowenstein Jensen media then with penicillin. cultures examined after 2 months. On LJ media, 100 (28.5%) positive, 80 (22.8%) contaminated. penicillin, 145 (41.4%) 15 (4.3%) In addition, 30 (8.5%) 1+ grading, 2+ grading both 95 (27.1%) 3+ 50 (14.2%) Contamination Mycobacterium is reduced by adding to isolation-positive are enhanced.