Acid fast.

Tuberculosis is one of the main public health problems worldwide. Nearly one-third of the global population, i.e. two billion people, are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and accordingly at risk of developing the disease. More than nine million people develop active TB every year and about two million die. More than 90% of global TB cases and deaths occur in the developing world, where 75% of cases are in the most economically productive age group (15-54 years). At every outpatient clinic, hospitals and health amenities, together in the public and private sectors, all patients have to to be thoroughly screened for cough by health officers manning the health facilities. In addition, within medical colleges and hospitals, in-patients also need to be screened for detection of TB suspects. People with cough for 2 weeks, or more, with or without extra symptoms indicative of TB, should be punctually recognized as pulmonary TB suspects and steps taken to question them to sputum smear microscopy for acid-fast bacilli, for diagnosis of TB.