Comparison Of Fluorescent Staining And Conventional Staining Of Skin Biopsy In Diagnosis Of Leprosy- A Hospital Based Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The correct diagnosis of leprosy is done by histopathological examination of skin lesions. In this study, we evaluate the use of fluorescent microscopy for rapid and accurate diagnosis and compare fluorescent staining with the conventional staining in the diagnosis of leprosy. OBJECTIVES: 1.To compare fluorescent staining and conventional staining of skin biopsy in diagnosis of leprosy. 2. To study the histological spectrum of skin lesions in leprosy. METHODOLOGY: Skin biopsies of forty-nine cases of leprosy patients were received in the Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin(H and E), Wade-Fite (WF)stain and Fluorescent stain(FL). Each case was evaluated for presence of bacilli on 10X, 40X and 100X. RESULTS: The sensitivity of Fluorescent stain over Wade-Fite stain was found out to be 82.50 and specificity was found out to be 100 %. The positive predictive value of the fluorescent stain was found out to be 100 % and negative predictive value of 56.25%. CONCLUSION: Fluorescent staining is sensitive than the conventional Wade Fite stain in detecting lepra bacilli in tissue sections particularly in cases with lower Bacteriological Index.