title: The impact of Xpert(®) MTB/RIF in sparsely populated rural settings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of implementing Xpert(®) MTB/RIF and the choice of instrument placement on patient care in sparsely populated areas with poor access to laboratory and radiology services have not yet been elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective evaluation of three diagnostic approaches in the Central Karoo, South Africa: smear microscopy as the initial diagnostic, with sputum processing at centralised laboratories, and Xpert as the initial diagnostic with instrument placement at facility level or centralised laboratory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1449 individuals, 196 were diagnosed with TB. The proportion positive on initial testing was respectively 8%, 20% and 8% during the smear microscopy, decentralised Xpert and centralised Xpert periods. The proportion of bacteriologically confirmed cases was respectively 88%, 99% and 91% during the smear microscopy, decentralised Xpert and centralised Xpert periods. The median time to treatment was respectively 11.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 6-24), 1 (IQR 0-2) and 6 days (IQR 2-9) during the smear microscopy, decentralised Xpert and centralised Xpert periods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Introducing Xpert as the initial diagnostic in areas with poor access to TB diagnostics increased the proportion of cases with bacteriological confirmation and reduced time to treatment initiation; however, point-of-care placement may have resulted in fewer people being evaluated for TB.
authors: Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Van Den Handel
authors: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors: K H
authors: KH
authors: Hampton
authors: Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa; Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Sanne
authors: Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Stevens
authors: Rural Districts, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Crous
authors: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Van Rie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D013019:South Africa; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy