Use of Xpert for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in severely malnourished hospitalized Malawian children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pulmonary tuberculosis contributes to increased morbidity and mortality in severely malnourished children in endemic settings. Despite high clinical suspicion, few tuberculosis prevalence estimates exist in malnourished African children. Diagnostics such as Xpert MTB/RIF may help to determine pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence, however its performance in severely malnourished children is largely unknown.

Methods

We conducted a prospective observational study evaluating Xpert compared to smear microscopy and liquid culture on induced sputums among severely malnourished children (aged 6 to 60 months) at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. From February 1 to May 30, 2012, children who met World Health Organization 2006 guidelines for severe acute malnutrition

SUBMITTER: LaCourse SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4217085 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature