Correction: Impact of Replacing Smear Microscopy with Xpert MTB/RIF for Diagnosing Tuberculosis in Brazil: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomized Trial

Trends in primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the State of Rio de Janeiro: a retrospective study conducted during 2000-2019

INTRODUCTION

We analyzed the trends in primary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

METHODS

We performed a time series analysis of primary MDR-TB cases reported in the State of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) during 2000-2019. The annual percent change and the average annual percentage change (AAPC) were computed using joinpoint regression analysis.

RESULTS

The percentage of cases increased from 7.69% in 2000 to 38.42% in 2018. We observed an upward trend during this period (AAPC = 9.4; 95% confidence interval 1.4-18.0, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The trend indicates the increasing occurrence of MDR-TB transmission sources in RJ during 2000-2019.

Use of Xpert Contributes to Accurate Diagnosis, Timely Initiation, and Rational Use of Anti-TB Treatment Among Childhood Tuberculosis Cases in South Central Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Childhood tuberculosis (TB) was under-prioritized, and only 15% of childhood TB cases are microbiologically confirmed. Hence, most childhood TB diagnoses are made on a clinical basis and prone to over- or under-treatment. Xpert is a rapid method for the diagnosis of childhood TB with high sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the use of Xpert for accurate diagnosis, timely initiation, and rational use of anti-TB treatment among childhood TB.

METHODS

In 2016, the hospital facilitated the installation of the Xpert machine. We reviewed data trends over four consecutive years; two years before the arrival of the machine and two years following the implementation of Xpert. Data were extracted retrospectively from electronically stored databases and medical records and entered to SPSS 21 for analysis.

RESULTS

In the pre-intervention period (2014-2015), 404 cases of children presenting with symptoms or signs suggestive of TB ("presumptive TB") were evaluated using AFB microscopy. A total of 254 (62.8%) TB diagnoses were made, of which 54 (21.3%) were confirmed by smear AFB while 200 (78.7%) were treated as smear-negative TB cases. The mean waiting time to start anti-TB treatment was 6.95 days [95% CI (3.71-10.90)]. During the intervention period (2016-2017), 371 children with presumptive TB were evaluated using Xpert. A total of 199 (53.6%) childhood TB cases were notified, of which 88 (44.2%) were Xpert positive and 111 (55.8%) were treated as Xpert-negative probable TB cases. The tendency to initiate anti-TB treatment for unconfirmed TB cases was reduced by a third. Compared with smear AFB, Xpert improved accuracy of diagnosing pediatric TB cases two-fold. The average waiting time to start anti-TB treatment was 1.33 days [95% CI (0.95-1.71)]. There was a significant reduction in the waiting time to start anti-TB treatment, with a mean time difference before and during intervention of 5.62 days [95% CI (1.68-9.56)].

CONCLUSION

Xpert use was associated with a significant increase in the accuracy of identifying confirmed TB cases, reduced unnecessary anti-TB prescription, and shortened the time taken to start TB treatment.

Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of Computer-Aided Detection of tuberculosis on Chest radiography among private sector patients in Pakistan

The introduction of digital CXR with automated computer-aided interpretation, has given impetus to the role of CXR in TB screening, particularly in low resource, high-burden settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CAD4TB as a screening tool, implemented in the private sector in Karachi, Pakistan. This study analyzed retrospective data from CAD4TB and Xpert MTB/RIF testing carried out at two private TB treatment and diagnostic centers in Karachi. Sensitivity, specificity, potential Xperts saved, were computed and the receiver operator characteristic curves were constructed for four different models of CAD4TB. A total of 6,845 individuals with presumptive TB were enrolled in the study, 15.2% of which had MTB + ve result on Xpert. A high sensitivity (range 65.8-97.3%) and NPV (range 93.1-98.4%) were recorded for CAD4TB. The Area under the ROC curve (AUC) for CAD4TB was 0.79. CAD4TB with patient demographics (age and gender) gave an AUC of 0.83. CAD4TB offered high diagnostic accuracy. In low resource settings, CAD4TB, as a triage tool could minimize use of Xpert. Using CAD4TB in combination with age and gender data enhanced the performance of the software. Variations in demographic information generate different individual risk probabilities for the same CAD4TB scores.