Prevalence and predictors of tuberculosis in adults and adolescents with sputum trace Ultra results in two high-burden clinical settings.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Some patients who test trace-positive on Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra ("Ultra"), a highly sensitive molecular diagnostic platform, may not have tuberculosis (TB) disease. A better understanding of the prevalence of TB disease, associated clinical characteristics, and utility of additional diagnostic tests among people with trace sputum (PWTS) could aid clinical decision-making.

Methods

We enrolled adults and adolescents with trace-positive sputum on initial TB diagnostic evaluation in Uganda and South Africa. Participants were extensively evaluated at enrollment; those with uncertain TB status were followed off treatment, with interval reevaluations by TB clinicians, for up to three months. We assessed TB prevalence and associated patient characteristics and diagnostic res

SUBMITTER: Visek C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12132140 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature