Open AccessTyphoid fever: misuse of Widal test in Libya
Author(s) -
Abdulaziz Zorgani,
Hisham Ziglam
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of infection in developing countries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.322
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 2036-6590
pISSN - 1972-2680
DOI - 10.3855/jidc.3700
Subject(s) - widal test , typhoid fever , medicine , salmonella typhi , gold standard (test) , salmonella enterica , serotype , enteric fever , salmonella , isolation (microbiology) , blood culture , titer , intensive care medicine , immunology , virology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , antibiotics , biochemistry , genetics , escherichia coli , bacteria , gene
The worldwide gold standard of diagnosing of enteric fever depends on the isolation of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi from a patient’s bone marrow and/or blood culture. In Libya clinicians are heavily dependent on the Widal test for diagnosis of enteric fever which has been used without determining the locally appropriate threshold titer, because the laboratories lack the skilled, experienced personnel and appropriate facilities to detect and serotype Salmonella isolates. To improve the diagnosis process, clinical management and reliability of public health measures, there is an urgent need for the effective training of laboratory technicians and to provide resources to culture Salmonella species according to published guidelines. Clinicians should understand the limitations of Widal test and recognize that it cannot be expected to give a reliable diagnosis.