title: GeneXpert® for smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis: does it play a role in low-burden countries?
abstract: We performed a retrospective analysis of costs and time to treatment (TT) of 150 culture-confirmed TB cases: 100 sputum smear (SS) (+) and 50 SS(-). This group underwent GeneXpert® (GX) assay. Expenditures and TT of SS(-)/GX(+) cases were inferred from the SS(+) group. GX detected 68% of SS(-) cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases at Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain. laura.lopez@bellvitgehospital.cat
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moure
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Porta
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alcaide
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic