Rapid Diagnosis of TB in Children with Use of Gastric Aspirates?

The Xpert MTB/RIF assay performed similarly on gastric lavage aspirates and sputum specimens.

Diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in children is hampered by their inability to expectorate sputum and by low numbers of mycobacteria in their specimens. Researchers prospectively assessed how well a rapid nucleic-acid amplification TB test performed on gastric lavage aspirates (GLAs) in 930 children aged ≤15 years (median age, 2 years) who were hospitalized in Zambia with suspected TB. The test, called Xpert MTB/RIF, identifies Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampin resistance (JW Infect Dis Aug 3 2011). Sputum samples were collected if possible; GLAs were obtained from children who could not produce sputum.

In this cohort, 142 children (15%) produced sputum; a single GLA was obtained from 788 (85%). TB cultures were positive in 58 children (6%…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Rapid Diagnosis of TB in Children with Use of Gastric Aspirates?

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Reviewing Author