title: GeneXpert assay for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in respiratory specimens from a high TB endemic area of Pakistan.
abstract: Tuberculosis is a global health problem, and its early diagnosis is the ultimate strategy for prevention and control. The current study was undertaken to evaluate conventional and molecular diagnostic assays for the detection of mycobacteria in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan. A total of 259 clinically suspected patients of TB were processed for Zeihl Neelsen (ZN) microscopy, BACTEC MGIT liquid culture and GeneXpert assay. Among 259 samples, 28 (10.81%) were positive for acid fast bacilli (AFB) on ZN microscopy. In liquid culture, the growth of mycobacterium species was obtained in 36 (13.89%) samples while the GeneXpert assay detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in 49 (18.91%) samples. Detection rate of MTB was significantly high (n = 49, p < 0.0095) on GeneXpert as compared to microscopy (n = 28); however no significant difference (p = 0.1230) was observed on GeneXpert (n = 49) and culture (n = 36) based detection of MTB. The strength of agreement between GeneXpert and microscopy was also poor (Kappa value < 0.114, 95% CI: -0.72 - 0.301) which support our results. MTB detection rate among female was high as compared to male TB patients while in age wise, the age group 55-64 years has almost high detection rate on microscopy, culture and GeneXpert assay. Findings of the present study highlighted that GeneXpert is more efficient tool for timely diagnosis and proper TB control in high TB endemic area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Electronic address: shakirkhattak_kk@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shakir Ullah
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Electronic address: hazirrahman@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hazir
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Electronic address: sultan_ayaz@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sultan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Electronic address: qasim89@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qasim
authors.affiliation: Provential TB Control Laboratory, HMC, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Electronic address: ajswati22@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jabbar
authors.affiliation: College of Allied Health Professionals, Directorate of Medical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: mohsin.mic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khurshid
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Electronic address: mubashirbangash@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mubashir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Electronic address: microbiologist81@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Niaz
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Bannu University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Electronic address: shoaib_chem6@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shoaib Ur
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Electronic address: nawabali_1857@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nawab
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010154:Pakistan; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: GeneXpert assay; MGIT culture; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; ZN microscopy