How to Recognize Resistant Tuberculosis? (IMAGE) Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp Caption The fluorescent lines are living tuberculosis bacilli, on a background of cellular debris from human sputum. Scientists of the Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine gave a new application to a forgotten technique: Fluorescein diacetate staining, which only stains living tuberculosis bacilli (and not dead ones). This way they can see immediately after treatment if resistant bacilli survived. This simple technique can replace classical microscopy, now the standard procedure in developing countries, which cannot make this distinction. (Multi)resistant tuberculosis is becoming a threat to world health. © ITG Credit © Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.