Staining techniques for detection of acid fast bacilli: what hope does fluorescein-diacetate (FDA) vitality staining technique represent for the monitoring of tuberculosis treatment in resource limited settings

Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global emergency health problem in 21st century [1,2], mainly affecting people in sub-Saharan Africa [3]. It is an infectious and transmissible disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex [4]. These bacteria are known as tubercle bacilli because they produce characteristic lesions called tubercles [5]. About 10% of