Evaluation of blood cultures and Widal test in the diagnosis of enteric fever and the cross-reactivity with malaria
Evaluation of blood cultures and Widal test in the diagnosis of enteric fever and the cross-reactivity with malaria
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Date
2015-03-30
Authors
Mohamed, Gaafar
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UOFK
Abstract
This is a comparative study conducted in the period from Sept. 2002 to
Sept. 2004 to evaluate different methods in the diagnosis of enteric fever.
The sensitivities of whole blood (conventional) and clot cultures were
compared in 100 patients suspected of typhoid or paratyphoid fever. Salmonella
typhi was isolated from 9%, S.paratyphi B from 6% of (5ml. 1:10 blood- broth
random blood cultures) and 7% Salmonella typhi, 6% S.paratyphi B of (5 ml.
Clot cultures). There was no difference in the speed of isolation, although the
clot culture was able to isolate enteric fever Salmonella from patients who had
been ill for longer than 14 days. Widal reaction was studied in 50 patients
having Malaria parasite in peripheral blood smear. Widal test for both O and H
antigens of Salmonella typhi, S.paratyphi A and B were of high titers (≥80) in
30% of the group of patients. Blood culture for Salmonella species was
negative in all. The high titers of Widal reaction may be false, which means, not
all high titers were enteric fever. Malaria parasite should be looked for before
prescribing medication. To determine the base line titer in the community 50
apparent healthy individuals were tested for anti O and H antigens in their
serum. 98% of titers were 20 and 40, only 2% were 80. The data obtained
showed that the base line titer is 40.
Description
103 page
Keywords
blood cultures,Widal test,malaria