Performance of Xpert MTB/RIF ultra for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children using cerebrospinal fluid.

ABSTRACT: Rapid and reliable diagnostic tests for tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children remain limited. This study evaluated the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra), an improved version of Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert), for detecting TBM in children using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Children (0-14 years) presumptive of TBM were enrolled prospectively from three tertiary level hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from December 2019 to January 2022. CSF was tested by Ultra, Xpert, Lowenstein-Jensen (L-J) culture, and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) microscopy. Diagnostic performance was assessed against clinical case definitions, composite microbiological reference standard (CMRS), and L-J culture. Of 187 children, Ultra detected TBM in 23.4% of cases, significantly higher than the 9.1% detected by Xpert (p < 0.0

SUBMITTER: Rahman SMM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12003733 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature