Mycobacteria Archives • Page 2 of 2 • Microbe Online

Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) acid-fast staining technique is used to stain Mycobacterium species, including M. tuberculosis, M. ulcerans, M. leprae, and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Detection of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in stained and acid-washed smears examined microscopically may provide the initial bacteriologic evidence of the presence of mycobacteria in a clinical specimen. Smear microscopy is the quickest and easiest procedure that can be performed. Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) in Z.N smear Mycobacteria's cell wall contains high lipid concentrations, making them waxy, hydrophobic, and impermeable to routine stains such as the Gram Stain. They are also resistant to acid and alcohol and are described as acid-fast bacilli (AFB) or acid alcohol fast bacilli (AAFB). There are two procedures commonly used for acid-fast staining: Carbolfuchsin methods which include the Ziehl-Neelsen and Kinyoun methods (light/bright field microscope)Fluorochrome procedure using auramine-O or auramine-rhodamine dyes(fluorescent microscope). Principle of Ziehl-Neelsen Method of Acid-Fast Staining Mycobacteria, which do not stain well by Gram stain, are stained with carbol fuchsin combined with phenol. In the ‘hot’ ZN technique, the phenol-carbol fuchsin stain is heated to enable the dye to penetrate the waxy mycobacterial cell wall.In the ‘cold’ technique known as Kinyoun Method, stains are not heated but the penetration is achieved by increasing the concentration of basic fuchsin and phenol and incorporating a ‘wetting agent’ chemical. The stain binds to the mycolic acid in the mycobacterial cell wall. After staining, an acid decolorizing solution is applied. This removes the red dye from the background cells, tissue fibres, and any organisms in the smear except mycobacteria which retain (hold fast to) the dye and are therefore referred to as acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Following decolorization, the sputum smear is counterstained with malachite green, or methylene blue which stains the background material, providing a contrast color against which the red AFB can be seen. Among the Mycobacterium species, M. tuberculosis and M. ulcerans are strongly acid-fast. When staining specimens for these species, a 3% v/v acid alcohol is used to decolorize the smear, whereas M. leprae is only weakly acid-fast. 0.5-1% v/v decolorizing solution is therefore used for M. leprae smears and also different staining and decolorizing time. Note: 0.5% Acid alcohol or 5% Sulphuric acid is used for Atypical AFB because they (eg. Mycobacterium leprae, Nocardia asteroides) are much less acid and alcohol fast than Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli. Fig. Heat Fixation of smear (Upper: using an electric heater, lower: using burner) Sample Collection & Preparation Due to overnight accumulation of secretions, first morning specimens are more likely to yield better recovery of AFB. Direct Smear: Smear prepared directly from a patient specimen prior to processing.Indirect Smear: Smear prepared from a processed specimen after centrifugation (is used to concentrate the material) Reagents required: Carbol fuchsin stain (filtered)Acid alcohol 3% v/v (or 20% sulfuric acid)Malachite green 5 g/l (0.5% w/v) or Methylene blue, 5g/l Ziehl-Neelsen Staining Procedure Time needed: 45 minutes. Acid-fast bacilli staining procedure Prepare the sputum smear Spread the sputum evenly over the central area of the slide using a continuous rotational movement. The recommended size of the smear is about 20 mm by 10 mm. Place slides on the dryer with smeared surface upwards, and air dry for about 30 minutes. Heat fix dried smear. Heat fixation of untreated specimens may NOT kill M. tuberculosis (exercise care when handling slides) whereas alcohol fixation is bactericidal. Application of a primary stain Cover the smear with carbol fuchsin stain Heat the smear until vapor just begins to rise (i.e. about 60°C). Do not overheat (boil or dry). Add additional stain if necessary. Allow the heated stain to remain on the slide for 5 minutes. Wash off the stain with clean water. Application of decolorizer Cover the smear with 3% v/v acid alcohol for 2-5 minutes (or 20% sulfuric acid) or until the smear is sufficiently decolorized, i.e. pale pink. Check to see that no more red color runs off the surface when the slide is tipped. Add a bit more decolorizer for very thick slides or those that continue to "bleed" red dye. Wash well with clean water Counterstaining Cover the stain with malachite green stain for 1-2 minutes. Wash off the stain with clean water Wipe the back of the slide clean, and place it in a draining rack for a smear to air dry (DO NOT BOLT DRY). Examine the smear microscopically, using the 100x oil immersion objective (10X eyepiece for a total of 1000X magnification) and scan the smear systematically. Procedural note: Acid alcohol is flammable; therefore, use it with care.Take great care while heating carbol fuchsin (as the staining rack may contain volatile chemicals) to reduce the fire risk.Slides must not touch each other when placed on a staining rack to prevent the transfer of materialfrom one slide to another. Results of Acid Fast Staining ReagentAcid FastNon-Acid FastCarbol fuchsin with heatRed (hot pink)Red (hot pink)Acid alcoholRedColorlessMethylene blue/malachite greenRedBlue/green AFB: red, straight, or slightly curved rods, occurring singly or in small groups, may appear beaded.Cells: greenBackground material: green Grading of sputum smear for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Sputum smear is graded as scanty, 1+, 2+, and 3+. When no AFB is seen after examining 300 fields, report the smear as ‘No AFB seen’.When very few AFB are seen i.e. when only 1 or 2 AFB are seen after examining 100 fields, request a further specimen to examine (that AFB might have come from tap water (saprophytic mycobacteria), or it may be scratch of a glass slide or by the use of the same piece of blotting paper while drying.When any red bacilli are seen, report the smear as ‘AFB positive’ and give an indication of the number of bacteria present as follows (the greater the number, the more infectious the patient). ObservationGradingNo AFB seen while observing more than 300 fieldsNo AFB seen1-9 AFB/100 fieldsReport the exact number10-99 AFB/ 100 fieldsReport as 1+1-10 AFB/field at least in 50 fieldsReport as 2 +More than 10 AFB/field at least in 20 fieldsReport as 3+ Advantages Microscopy of sputum smears is simple and inexpensive, quickly detecting infectious cases of pulmonary TB;Sputum specimens from patients with pulmonary TB - especially those with the cavitary disease - often contain sufficiently large numbers of acid-fast bacilli to be readily detected by microscopy. Limitation of AFB Microscopy Does not distinguish between viable and dead organisms Follow-up specimens from patients on treatment may be smear-positive yet culture negative Microscopy for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) cannot distinguish drug-susceptible from drug-resistant strains.Limited sensitivity High bacterial load 5,000-10,000 AFB /mL is required for detection ( In contrast, 10 to 100 bacilli are needed for a positive culture).Smear sensitivity is further reduced in patients with extra-pulmonary TB, HIV-co-infection, and those with disease due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).Many TB patients have negative AFB smears with a subsequent positive culture. Negative smears do not exclude TB disease. Limited specificity All mycobacteria are acid-fast Does not provide species identificationLocal prevalence of MTB and NTM determine the predictive values of a positive smear for MTB List of Acid Fast Organisms Mycobacterium tuberculosis Mycobacterium leprae (weak acid-fast)Other Mycobacteria Nocardia spp: Partial acid-fastRhodococcus spp: Partial acid-fastLegionella micdadei: Partially acid-fast in tissueCyst of Cryptosporidium: Acid-fastCyst of Isospora: Acid-fast Sodium Hypochlorite Centrifugation Technique to Concentrate AFB Sodium hypochlorite centrifugation technique is used to concentrate the AFB present in sputum, as it increases the chances of detecting AFB in sputum smears. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is recommended for liquefying the sputum, as it kills M. tuberculosis, making handling specimens safe for laboratory technicians. Procedure Transfer 1-2 ml of the sputum's purulent part (i.e. containing any caseous materials) to a screw cap universal bottle or other containers of 10-20 ml capacity.Add an equal volume of concentrated sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution and mix well.Leave at room temperature for 10-15 minutes, shaking at intervals to break down the mucus in the sputum.Add about 8 ml of distilled water and mix well.Centrifuge at 3000 g for 15 minutes. When centrifugation is not possible, leave NaOCl-treated sputum to sediment overnight.Remove and discard supernatant fluid using a glass Pasteur or plastic bulb pipette. Mix the sediment.Transfer a drop of well-mixed sediment to a clean scratch-free glass slide and spread the sediment to make a thin preparation and allow air-drying.Heat fix the smear, stain it using the Ziehl-Neelsen technique, and examine it microscopically.