Comparing rates of mycobacterial clearance in sputum smear-negative and smear-positive adults living with HIV.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in people living with HIV (PLH) frequently presents as sputum smear-negative. However, clinical trials of TB in adults often use smear-positive individuals to ensure measurable bacterial responses following initiation of treatment, thereby excluding HIV-infected patients from trials.

Methods

In this prospective case cohort study, 118 HIV-seropositive TB patients were assessed prior to initiation of standard four-drug TB therapy and at several time points through 35 days. Sputum bacillary load, as a marker of treatment response, was determined serially by: smear microscopy, Xpert MTB/RIF, liquid culture, and colony counts on agar medium.

Results

By all four measures, patients who were baseline smear-positive had higher bacterial l

SUBMITTER: Machowski EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8141145 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature