title: Comparison of quantitative polymerase chain reaction, acid fast bacilli smear, and culture results in patients receiving therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: Quantitative-competitive polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) was performed on serial sputum samples from 22 consecutive cases of acid fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Of 94 specimens, 55, 72, and 83% were positive by culture, AFB smear, and QPCR, respectively. Of 52 culture-positive specimens, 6% were negative by PCR, and 13% were negative by AFB smear. Of 42 culture-negative specimens, AFB smear and QPCR were positive in 55 and 61%, respectively. AFB smear and QPCR results were strongly correlated (r = 0.75, p < 0.001), but each correlated less strongly with culture (r = 0.54, p < 0.005 for smear and r = 0.52, p < 0.005 for QPCR). When patients were classified by microbiologic response, responders tended to have less DNA in their sputum and shorter time to a negative PCR result compared to nonresponders. These data do not suggest a great advantage of QPCR over AFB smear for predicting culture results in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Miller Children's Hospital, Long Beach, California 90801-1428, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Afghani
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lieberman
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Duke
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Stutman
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial