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Pongpeeradech N, Kasetchareo Y, Chuchottaworn C, Lawpoolsri S, Silachamroon U, Kaewkungwal J. Evaluation of the use of GeneXpert MTB/RIF in a zone with high burden of tuberculosis in Thailand. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271130. [PMID: 35895742 PMCID: PMC9328536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
GeneXpert MTB/RIF is a reliable molecular diagnostic tool capable of detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and identifying genetic determinants of rifampicin (RIF) resistance. This study aimed to assess physicians’ diagnostic decision-making processes for TB based on GeneXpert MTB/RIF results and how this affected the initiation of multidrug resistance (MDR) treatment. This study employed a mixed method: data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of TB patients and in-depth interviews were conducted with healthcare workers in areas with a high TB burden in Thailand. A total of 2,030 complete TB records from 2 patient groups were reviewed, including 1443 suspected cases with negative smear results and 587 with high risk of MDR-TB. GeneXpert MTB/RIF was routinely used to assist the physicians in their decision-making for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and the initiation of MDR-TB treatment. The physicians used it as a “rule-in test” for all patients with negative chest X-rays (CXR) and smear results, to ensure timely treatment. Approximately one-fourth of the patients with negative CXR/smear and GeneXpert MTB/RIF results were diagnosed with PTB by the physicians, who based their decisions on other evidence, such as clinical symptoms, and did not use GeneXpert MTB/RIF as a “rule-out test.” GeneXpert MTB/RIF proved effective in early detection within a day, thereby radically shortening the time required to initiate second-line drug treatment. Despite its high sensitivity for detecting PTB and MDR-TB, GeneXpert MTB/RIF had contradictory results (false positive and/or false negative) for 21.8% of cases among patients with negative smear results and 41.1% of cases among patients with high risk of MDR-TB. Therefore, physicians still used the results of other conventional tests in their decision-making process. It is recommended that GeneXpert MTB/RIF should be established at all points of care and be used as the initial test for PTB and MDR-TB diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathakorn Pongpeeradech
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Department of Tropical Hygiene, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yuthichai Kasetchareo
- Division of AIDS Tuberculosis and Sexual transmitted diseases, Department of Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
- Thonburi Health Center, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Charoen Chuchottaworn
- Central Chest Institute of Thailand (CCIT), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Saranath Lawpoolsri
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Department of Tropical Hygiene, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Center of Excellence for Biomedical and Public Health Informatics (BIOPHICS), Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Udomsak Silachamroon
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jaranit Kaewkungwal
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Department of Tropical Hygiene, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Center of Excellence for Biomedical and Public Health Informatics (BIOPHICS), Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail:
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