Cerebrospinal fluid AFB smear in adults with tuberculous meningitis: A systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear is a rapid, cheap, widely available test for tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Yet, reported test sensitivity is highly variable. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis for CSF AFB smear vs. other mycobacterial tests to diagnose TBM.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE and Embase for studies reporting sensitivity and specificity of AFB smear against mycobacterial tests (reference standard) in adults (≥15 years) with suspected TBM. We used the QUADAS-2 tool to assess risk of bias. We estimated pooled sensitivity and specificity of AFB smear versus the reference standard using random-effects bivariate modeling. We used the I² statistic to assess heterogeneity between studies.

Results

SUBMITTER: Stadelman AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9378497 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature