Stool Xpert® MTB/RIF Ultra for TB diagnosis in children: experience from a national scale-up programme
S. Kabir,
S. Choudhury,
T. Rahman,
S.M.M. Rahman,
M.K.M. Uddin,
A. Nashra,
A. Hossain,
S. Naher,
K.M.S. Towhid,
L. Shahrin,
S. Ahmed,
P. Daru,
J. Hoffmann,
S. Banu
Affiliations
S. Kabir
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
S. Choudhury
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
T. Rahman
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
S.M.M. Rahman
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
M.K.M. Uddin
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
A. Nashra
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
A. Hossain
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
S. Naher
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
K.M.S. Towhid
National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Dhaka, Bangladesh;
L. Shahrin
Clinical and Diagnostic Services, Office of Executive Director, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh;
S. Ahmed
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
P. Daru
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
J. Hoffmann
Fondation Mérieux, Lyon, France.
S. Banu
Progamme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh;
INTRODUCTION: We describe the programmatic scale-up of stool testing using Xpert® MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra), as recommended by the WHO to improve childhood pulmonary TB (PTB) diagnosis. METHODS: USAID's Alliance for Combating TB in Bangladesh Activity, in collaboration with the National TB Control Programme, is implementing a stool-based diagnostic approach at 51 healthcare facilities in Bangladesh to improve PTB detection. Specimens from children (2–<5 years’ and ‘0–2 years’. CONCLUSIONS: Testing stools using Ultra provides a more effective way of diagnosing bacteriologically positive PTB in children. However, positivity varies with presenting symptoms/criteria, highlighting the need for careful diagnostic evaluation to ensure optimum use of limited diagnostic resources.
