Aim: To assess whether the use of direct realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on smear-positive sputa can be cost-effective, by speciating mycobacteria earlier than current methods and thereby preventing unnecessary screening tests as part of the contact tracing process. Methods: A retrospective study of all patients with smear-positive sputa in a Liverpool teaching hospital between 2004 an...

BACKGROUND The impact of tuberculosis (TB) is exacerbated in Africa because of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) diagnosis is difficult in HIV-infected patients and negative sputum results are more common which leads to diagnostic delay and increases morbidity and mortality. Extra-pulmonary samples such as stool may be easier to obtain and our approac...

INTRODUCTION Unsuccessful TB treatment outcome is a serious public health concern. It is compelling to identify, and deal with factors determining unsuccessful treatment outcome. Therefore, study was aimed to determine pattern of unsuccessful TB treatment outcome and associated factors in eastern Ethiopia. METHODS A case control study was used. Cases were records of TB patients registered as ...

Background.  The Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)/rifampicin (RIF) is a fully automated diagnostic test that allows for the detection of MTB including its RIF resistance. Although the test is used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in sputum samples worldwide, studies using fecal specimens are scarce. We therefore evaluated the efficacy of the Xpert MTB/RIF test for detection of MTB i...