CME cum Workshop on Newer Molecular Diagnostic Techniques

Ludhiana, August 25, 2012: Department of Microbiology at DMCH organised a CME-cum-workshop on 'Newer molecular diagnostic techniques for diagnosis of TB' The CME was inaugurated by Dean Academics Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina.

Associate Professor Dr Dr Veenu Gupta extended warm welcome to the participants including administrative and technical staff of the hospital and briefly introduced about the newer facilities for diagnosis and management of tuberculosis in the Department of microbiology, DMCH. The workshop was well attended by delegates from all parts of Punjab and J & K.

During the workshop, Professor and Head of Microbiology-Dr Deepinder Chhina elaborated that Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health problem, particularly in many of the developing countries including India. The disease is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that is capable of establishing and causing life-long infection in humans.

About 9 million new cases of TB are reported all over the world killing around 1.5 million people every year. In India, approximately 12-15 million people are currently suffering from the disease of which about half a million of the affected persons die each year. An increasing trend of the disease associated with the HIV infection has been recorded all over the world and in India alone, out of around 3.5 million HIV infected persons about 1.8 million individuals are co- infected with TB.

Dr Chhina further said that earlier, TB was diagnosed by conventional methods like smear microscopy, culture and chest radiography, which were slow and tedious procedures and reports were made available within 24 hrs to 8 weeks .With recent advances and emerging technologies in the newer molecular diagnostic techniques, report is available within 2 to 24 hrs. Newer techniques help in the rapid diagnosis and initiation of therapy leading to reduction in mortality

Secretary of DMCH Managing Society- Prem Kumar Gupta exhorted the medical faculty to give the state-of-art quality medical care to the patients.These new techniques will go a long way in management of difficulties in tuberculosis patients, said Principal Dr Daljit Singh.

The latest equipments available in the Department of Microbiology for diagnosis of TB include BacT Alert 3D syatem, which is an automated culture technique, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct (AMTD) Test and HAIN,Line Probe Assay (Genotype-MTBDR Plus),which is based on DNA STRIP technology. With detection of MDR (Multi Drug Resistant) TB , appropriate treatment can be started earlier which reduces transmission and spread of tuberculosis.